Year 9 IGCSE Students’ Apple Career Learning Experience
At the Australian International School, we are committed to providing our students with exceptional learning experiences that go beyond the confines of traditional education. We are excited to share the incredible journey of 10 of our Year 9 IGCSE students who recently had an amazing opportunity – a career learning experience at Apple through Technology.Art.Girls (TAG) initiative.
Technology.Art.Girls (TAG)
The TAG program is a unique initiative designed to immerse young minds into the captivating world of the tech industry. For 2.5 days, our students had the privilege of connecting with Apple engineers, designers, marketers, and project managers. This invaluable experience allowed them to gain insights, broaden their perspectives, and collaborate with peers from different schools. Together, they delved into projects aimed at addressing critical environmental issues.
Highlights of the TAG Experience
Here are some of the highlights from this immersive journey:
- Exploring the Intersection of Technology and the Arts
Our students had the opportunity to explore their interests at the intersection of technology and the arts within the industry. This experience encouraged them to think creatively and innovatively.
- Apple’s Commitment to Environmental Conservation
During the program, our students delved into Apple’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the planet for future generations. They learned about Apple’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.
- Inspiring Insights from Sustainability Champions
The students had the privilege of hearing from Sustainability and Environment champions in Singapore. These individuals shared their unique journeys and provided valuable insights into the world of environmental conservation.
- Hands-On Problem-Solving
A significant part of the experience involved hands-on problem-solving. Students tackled micro-challenges and worked on projects aimed at directly contributing to environmental solutions. This practical approach provided a deep understanding of the issues at hand.
- Learning Foundational Coding and Design Skills
The program also offered our students the opportunity to learn foundational skills in coding and design. This knowledge lays the foundation for a promising future in the tech world, empowering them with the skills required for success.
- Collaboration and Building Confidence
In addition to the educational aspects, the program provided our students with excellent opportunities to make new friends and boost their confidence levels. Collaborating with students from different schools and diverse cultural backgrounds helped them learn the importance of teamwork and adaptability.
Hear from our students!
Over the 2.5 days, our students had the opportunity to connect with Apple engineers, designers, marketers, and project managers. Here’s what they had to share about the program:
Yumeng Guo
Yumeng Guo shared her insights from the first day of the program, emphasising the importance of addressing global environmental challenges. She described how Ms. Kia Jiehui discussed the issues of waste, energy consumption, and labour exploitation, while also highlighting the progress made in recent years in tackling these problems. Yumeng appreciated the growing use of recyclable electricity and materials, making the world a more sustainable place.
She expressed her favourite part of the experience, saying, “My favourite part was when we started with Swift. Swift is a programming language where you can bring your ideas to life and even build an app from scratch. We began by exploring the app and understanding how the language worked, using simple commands like displaying images on the screen or showing text like ‘Hello, world.’ It was a truly enjoyable experience, combining learning with the excitement of exploring new concepts.”
Joline Lay
Joline Lay’s learnings were diverse and comprehensive. She gained insights into software engineering, understanding how instructions on devices are executed and the complexity behind seemingly simple apps. Joline said, “For software engineering, the trainer taught us how instructions on devices are executed, for example, a person presses the Apple music logo, it opens. However, it has codes running behind it and instructions that the device has to follow to open the app, and it is not just an app logo.”
Her group also worked on fixing bugs in a digital calculator, demonstrating their problem-solving skills. She continued, “We were able to fix the bugs that a digital calculator has. My group was able to code the AC button on the computer to make it a different colour, and we were also able to spot a bug – that is, that the calculator will crash when numbers are divided by 0.”
Yilin Qian
Yilin Qian shared her experience listening to a talk about Apple’s Sustainability Initiative, which aims to make every product carbon-neutral by 2030. She learned about Apple’s progress, including the carbon-neutral Apple Watch and efforts to reduce package materials and optimise shipping for a greener future.
She also described the App Concept Challenge, saying, “The second activity was the App Concept Challenge. We brainstormed some ideas for our app based on the essential question – how can we ensure that everyone understands community steps towards climate action and the challenge – create an app concept that will help educate and encourage people to take action to protect our environment.”
Yilin’s group came up with the concept of selling “ugly food” – still-edible food items that may not look perfect, reducing food waste. She explained, “And we came up with an idea of selling ‘ugly food.’ 78% of the food is lost before they are put into packages and sold out just because they are not good looking.”
Opportunities at AIS
The Year 9 students’ Apple Experience Day was more than just a field trip; it was a transformational journey into the world of technology and innovation. The knowledge, skills, and inspiration they gained during this immersive experience will undoubtedly shape their futures and contribute to a brighter, more sustainable world.
The Australian International School’s mission is to enable our students to realise their potential through exceptional opportunities, within a nurturing community that equips them to flourish in life and to make a difference for good. We are committed to the notion of a holistic, rounded education, which cherishes the arts and sports as well as academics as essential dimensions of each student’s education. We are equally committed to teaching our students to have a moral commitment to making our world a better place as reflective, caring, knowledgeable and principled people. For more information click here
