A professor in computer science, Darcy Benoit was instructing some of the same 60 students in scratch coding, while kinesiologist Scott Landry walked the youth through the work of the Human Motion Laboratory.
The students were fascinated as Landry showed off the motion-capture system that uses reflective markers to track and record the positions of an athlete’s limbs during movement.
The Annapolis Valley Regional School Board students were attending Skilled Futures in Technology, presented by Skills Canada - Nova Scotia (SCNS) at Acadia University.
Program manager Laura King said ten groups rotated among various sessions and also took part in a team building exercise.
King said that career exploration event takes many forms across the province.
“We had one focused on trades last fall at Kingstec,” she said. “In Port Hawkesbury, we had one that was all about oceans.”
Skilled Futures in Technology is aimed at both junior and senior high school students and the program promotes technology use and innovation through educational, fun and interactive workshops ranging from robotics and computer programing to motion capture applications.
“Some students in Nova Scotia are considering a career in a technology but many aren’t aware of the opportunities available in the ICT sector,” said executive director Courtney Gouthro.
“Our Skilled Futures series is an interactive opportunity that allows students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a variety of career options,” she noted.
“Student participants gain valuable experience to draw from when they are faced with making an informed decision about their future and potentially discover occupations they may not have considered before,” said Gouthro.
The one-day career exploration events take place from October to June at locations across the province. The Wolfville event was supported by Digital Nova Scotia, Acadia University, and the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency.
Did you know?
Skills Canada – Nova Scotia is a not-for-profit organization that provides opportunities for Nova Scotian youth to explore skilled trades and technologies, discover their passions, and strive for excellence.
