Utilizing Block Coding: Opportunity for Youth to Showcase Creativity, Create Various Games, and Apply Skills to Real Life
Applications Accepted Until September 30, Open to All Elementary and Middle School Students in Busan, Submit via Email
Busan Metropolitan City, in collaboration with the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency (President Kim Taeyeol), is hosting the "2024 Smart Toktok Coding Contest" to enhance digital competency among youth and promote a healthy information culture.
The event is organized by the city and managed by the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency (Busan Information Culture Center). It is supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, Dongmyeong University, Dongseo University, and Pusan National University.
Through this contest, the city aims to provide opportunities for youth to demonstrate creativity using block coding and to create various games and real-life applications utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms under the theme "Smart Busan as a Healthy Information Culture City."
Block coding is an educational programming method that implements programming principles in the form of assembling blocks.
Especially as the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) technology continues to grow, this contest will allow young people to encounter basic AI concepts and help them easily understand and apply such technologies in daily life.
The contest application period runs until September 30, and any elementary or middle school student in the Busan area can participate.
Elementary school students must participate as a team with their guardian.
Participants can submit creative works, such as games that fit the contest theme, using Scratch or Entry via email within the application period.
Scratch is an educational programming language developed by the MIT Media Lab in the United States, while Entry is a block-based educational programming language developed in Korea.
After evaluation, the city will select 13 outstanding works and present awards including the Minister of Science and ICT Award (1 winner), the Mayor of Busan Award (2 winners), the Superintendent of Busan Metropolitan Office of Education Award (2 winners), the President of Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency Award (2 winners), and the President of Local Universities Award (6 winners).
Kim Bongcheol, Director of the City Administration and Autonomy Bureau, stated, "This contest is a great opportunity for Busan youth to increase their interest in coding and develop creative problem-solving skills. We hope many students participate and showcase their unique works. In particular, we hope that block coding projects incorporating artificial intelligence technology will serve as a stepping stone for students to grow into future AI experts."
The Busan Information Culture Center, within the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency, was established in December 2008 and is pursuing initiatives such as spreading a healthy information culture, preventing and resolving youth digital risks, and strengthening public-private partnership (governance) systems with the vision of "Digital Inclusive City Busan."
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