First Code Academy「AppJamming Summit 2015」
見證科技新星誕生　贏取機會赴美參加「AppInventor Summit」
Brilliant app designers showcase their apps in First Code Academy’s “AppJamming Summit 2015”, winning a chance to join the MIT App Inventor Summit 2015 in the USA this summer

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新聞稿（即時發佈）                                                               2015年4月21日
致總編輯／港聞版編輯／副刊版編輯／教育版編輯／親子版編輯

First Code Academy「AppJamming Summit 2015」
見證科技新星誕生　贏取機會赴美參加「AppInventor Summit」

Photos: http://www.seedland.hk/press/fca/6/
Press release: http://www.seedland.hk/press/fca/6/appjamming_PostEvent_chi_final.doc

為鼓勵年輕一代發揮科技創意的天賦，兒童創意程式學院First Code Academy舉辦了「AppJamming Summit 2015程式設計比賽」，讓年青人親自設計出實用有趣的流動應用程式（Apps），將娛樂延伸成為惠己及人的興趣。勝出者更有機會在今年7月遠赴美國波士頓的麻省理工學院參加「App Inventor Summit（程式開發論壇）」，與世界級專家交流心得。比賽反應踴躍，除了本地的參賽作品外，更收到來自亞洲各地同學的作品，締造了一場兒童程式界的盛事。

經過首輪評審後，16組參賽者晉身決賽，當中三組來自台灣，而最年輕的入圍參賽者只有八歲！有見漢字是外籍學生學習中文的一大難關，這位小小程式員設計出名為「Mandarin Learning」的App幫助同學練習書寫中文字，可謂創意與實用兼具。在不同類型的Apps之中，遊戲一直獨佔鰲頭，亦成為許多年青人投身科技創作的契機。不少參賽者亦發揮天馬行空的想像力，構思出新穎的手機遊戲。入圍者逐一於上周六的AppJamming Summit中展示自己的創作成果，分享背後的設計意念，讓現場嘉賓和觀眾大開眼界。決賽由副政府資訊科技總監（政策及數碼社會）林錦平女士聯同KG Group（Kids Gallery及苗士幼稚園）創辦人何苗春暉女士擔任評判，即場對他們的作品評分並公布結果。最終來自新界鄉議局元朗區中學的四位學生，憑模擬滑鼠和無線簡報器的程式「The Remote」奪得冠軍。

First Code Academy的創辦人辛婥琳表示：「為迎接科技帶來的社會轉變，學習編寫程式，無疑已成為這世代孩子的必要技能。而透過舉辦AppJamming Summit，我們希望展示亞太區年輕一代的創意思維，讓公眾見證他們的非凡天賦。參賽者的水準之高，亦完全超出了我們的想像，不論是作品的質素、編寫程式的技巧，以至同學的熱誠，均給予我們很大的鼓舞，更印證了孩子也能設計好程式的說法！」

活動當天更邀請了業界專家及教育界代表，上台分享對科技教育的獨特見解，為一眾參賽者上了寶貴的一課，除林錦平女士外，講者亦包括有香港加拿大國際學校科技學習主任John Turner先生、港灣學校副校長Christine Greenberg女士、國際學校科技總監及電腦科老師Ross Parker先生，以及資深資訊科技從業員楊國猛先生。年青程式員及創業家更現身說法，將他們的經驗及心得化為對同學的溫馨鼓勵。另一邊廂，大會亦在台下安排了遊戲攤位和工作坊等互動環節，讓家長和小朋友親身感受編寫程式的樂趣，進一步拉近公眾與科技的距離。

決賽入圍者名單：

關於First Code Academy
英語授課的First Code Academy為亞洲區內領先教授兒童編寫程式的教育機構，課程對象涵蓋幼稚園階段至12歲的學生。在First Code Academy的課室內，學生學習到的不只是單純的程式編寫技能，還有富邏輯性的計算思維摸式。自2013年成立以來，已有逾1,500名學生接受過First Code Academy以小班教學、專題學習方式為主的課程。除了恆常的課程外，First Code Academy亦曾與Google及多家企業合作，積極履行社會責任，讓本地低收入家庭的小朋友能體驗編寫程式的樂趣。有關First Code Academy報導見於國際傳媒《華爾街日報》、CNN，以及多家本地媒體，包括TVB、now TV及《南華早報》。

First Code Academy的課程旨在為6歲以上的兒童提供設計流動應用程式課程：6至8歲為「First Code小玩家（First Code Tinker）」，孩子將透過iPad上的兒童教育Apps及一系列簡單易明的課堂活動，初步認識程式概念；8至11歲為「App探索家（App Explorer）」，孩子在課堂上初嚐寫App滋味；12-15 歲為「App發明家（App Creator）」，較深入地教授有關電腦程式的知識，提升同學的解難能力；15歲或以上為「App創業家（App Entrepreneur）」，這階段孩子已能實踐出自己的理念，創作出各適其適的Apps，課程將引導同學進一步思考市場上的真正需要，甚至設計Apps解決客戶的需要。

First Code Academy                      網址：www.firstcodeacademy.com
發稿：First Code Academy　　　　       代行：一口田有限公司
電話：3583 3100 　傳真：3583 1331　電郵：info@seedland.hk
如欲查詢詳情、索取照片或安排與First Code Academy進行專訪，歡迎致電3583 3310與Miss Heidi Lam聯絡。

Press Release    (For Immediate Release)                                 21st April 2015

Brilliant app designers showcase their apps in First Code Academy’s “AppJamming Summit 2015”, winning a chance to join the MIT App Inventor Summit 2015 in the USA this summer

Photos: http://www.seedland.hk/press/fca/6/
Press release: http://www.seedland.hk/press/fca/6/appjamming_PostEvent_eng_final.doc

First Code Academy, an established education centre which provides computer coding courses to children, has organized the “AppJamming Summit 2015 – App Design Competition” for children to develop their talents in technology. Winners can earn a chance to participate in the MIT App Inventor Summit in July 2015 in Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Boston, USA, where they can exchange ideas with the world’s top experts. The competition has received submissions from Hong Kong and across the Asia Pacific region, making it a remarkable programming event.

16 outstanding finalists have been selected to present their creative works in the AppJamming Summit last Saturday, including three teams from Taiwan and the youngest being only eight years old! Having noticed that learning Chinese characters is a difficult task for many foreign students, the young designer developed the app “Mandarin Learning” for students to practice with. Among different types of apps, games always come out on top and have attracted young people to engage in technological creation. As many participants also displayed their innovative ideas into the creation of games during the Summit, all the guests and audiences were amazed by the projects done by these young coders. Works of the finalists were assessed onsite by judges including: Ms Joey Lam, Deputy Government Chief Information Officer (Policy and Community) at OGCIO; and Ms Joanna Hotung, the founder of KG Group (Kids Gallery and Mills Kindergarten), followed by the announcement of results at the end. Four students from N.T Heung Yee Kuk Yuen Long District Secondary School won the competition by the app called “the Remote” with wireless presenter mouse functions.

Ms Michelle Sun, the founder of First Code Academy, shared, “Coding is the new, essential skill for children nowadays in order to embrace the changes of society. The AppJamming Summit was therefore held to showcase the best young creative minds in the Asia Pacific region, allowing the public to witness the achievements of our aspiring coders. The performance of the participants is far beyond our expectation. We are all very impressed by the quality of their works, their coding skill as well as the enthusiasm they have shown. They have offered us the best examples of what children can make with technology!”

In addition to the finalists’ presentation, different parties in the community were invited to share their insights and perspectives on technology education during the event. Apart from Ms Joey Lam, the guest speakers also included: Dr John Turner, Learning Technologies Leader of Canadian International School; Ms Christine Greenberg, Vice Principal of the Harbour School; Mr Ross Parker, Technology Director and Teacher of Computing of International College Hong Kong; and Mr Ken Yeung, a technology industry veteran. The stories shared by teenage programmers and entrepreneurs provided such a warm encouragement to the young coders as well. Various interactive activities such as game booths and workshops were also arranged for participants to enjoy, making it a carnival for both parents and kids to have their hands-on experience in coding.

Below is the list of the finalists:

About First Code Academy
First Code Academy (FCA) is a leading education institute in Asia that teaches kids coding courses and develop curriculum for K-12 students to learn not just coding skills, but computational thinking. Since launch in 2013, the team has taught over 1500 students with projects-based, small group learning environments. In addition to regular classes, First Code has partnered with Google and many corporations for social impact projects teaching students from underprivileged communities how to code. The team is based in Hong Kong. Their work has been featured on Wall Street Journal, CNN, and multiple local press including TVB, NowTV, South China Morning Post.

First Code Academy provides computer programming courses to children above 6 years of age. Classes for children aged 6 to 8 are called “First Code Tinker”, for students to learn programming concepts through educational iPad apps and unplugged activities. Classes for children aged 8 to 11 are called “App Explorer”, in which children will be invited to experience their first trials in app writing. “App Creator” is designed for children aged 12 to 15 and targets to teach them programming-related knowledge in a more in-depth manner and enhance their problem-solving capabilities. For children older than 15 years of age, they should be able to establish their ideas through technology and create a variety of apps in “App Entrepreneur”. This course will guide students to adapt further to the market’s needs and design apps that can suit different clients.

Released by: Seedland International Limited
On behalf of First Code Academy
First Code Academy website: www.firstcodeacademy.com
Tel: 3583 3100     Fax: 3583 1331     E-mail: info@seedland.hk
For more details, photo-shoot booking, interviews or other enquiries, please contact Miss Heidi Lam (3583 3310).