Pupils from Upton Junior School attended a code challenge event hosted at Bournemouth University to develop their understanding of how coding is used in sport.
Led by SportBU staff from Bournemouth University, pupils discovered and discussed how performance analysis is used in multiple sports competition and training environments using systems such as video analysis and goal line technology.
After watching a video explaining how these systems were developed and programmes at major tournaments such as Rugby World Cup and Tennis Grand Slam, pupils were put through their paces in some practical testing environments including speed gate analysis equipment and electronic reaction wall games.
Kate Haviscon from Upton Junior School said, “We all had a wonderful time - it was very interesting indeed! It was a fantastic opportunity for the children to get to see the university, as well as all the fabulous technology”.
The Code Challenge, in its third year, encourages pupils to tackle health and fitness challenges through their creativity and coding skills. This year the Challenge is open to schools across the UK, entering in four categories from year 5 to year 13. Avril Harrison from Bournemouth’s Faculty of Media & Communication said “We’re delighted with our continued support for the Code Challenge and the opportunities it provides for local schools to engage in coding and work with industry based STEM Ambassadors”
Barry Squires, Business and Partnerships Manager at Bournemouth University’s SportBU, said, “We’re really pleased that we could help engage a wide range of young people with coding and open their eyes to the opportunities of the creative industries. By having such an open theme as health and fitness, SportBU were able to deliver a practical session for the school children so they could experience and understand performance analysis in sport and how coding plays such a key role.”
For the last two years the highest scoring teams have won a visit the studios of world leading visual effects company Double Negative in London, who have won Oscars for their work on films such as Inception and Interstellar.
Project lead Jan Peters said, “The trip really highlighted for pupils the link between the classroom and a booming British coding industry. Seeing people creating exciting films and earning money from coding really highlights the link between the classroom and real world and the opportunities open to them.”
