The TeenTech Lancashire 2024 Festival was enjoyed by over 2000 students who participated in the virtual and physical event days. The steering group, led by TeenTech (Maggie Philbin, Sally Dixon) and Kerry Harrison from the Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership have worked together since 2019, delivering two virtual and two physical festivals.
The group members are Joanna Brown from The University of Central Lancashire, Theo Blackburn and Emma Deeks from Future U, John Hooper from Inspira, James Bajcer from Create Education, Edward Matthews-Gentle from Creative Lancashire and Lekhana Manjunatha from Northern Reach. This second physical TeenTech Festival was held in partnership with the Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership, part of the Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub, The University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire Careers Hub and sponsored by Future U, The Department of Science Innovation and Technology, Oracle and Softwire.
After the successful delivery of the virtual and physical festival in May 2023, planning for the first physical event began immediately and the decision was made to theme the festival around Innovation, AI and cyber security. We ran a virtual pre-event ‘Innovation day’ on 6th February and the TeenTech physical festival on 20th June. The structure of the festival follows the TeenTech template for regional events.
21 different schools from across Lancashire, including two SEN schools participated in the physical festival. Ashton Community Science College, Bay Leadership Academy, Blessed Trinity RC College, Brownedge St Mary’s Catholic High School, Blackpool Aspire Academy, Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio School, Garstang Community Academy, Hutton C of E Grammar School, Eden School, The Hyndburn Academy, Our Lady and St John Catholic College, Our Lady’s Catholic College, Marsden Heights Community College, Moor Park High School & Sixth Form College, Rhyddings School, Lathom High School, Pleckgate High School, St Augustine’s RC High School, Shuttleworth College, Hillside Specialist School and College, Witton Park Academy.
Schools were asked to bring mixed ability students and to consider those who would most benefit from exposure to the range of digital and technical careers which would be showcased. After an introductory plenary, students were divided into three groups and rotated round three zones:
Innovation Zone: where students received feedback on their project ideas inspired by the virtual event and guided by Ali Maggs, developed their thinking on different ways to incorporate AI and cyber security. They then presented short pitches on their ideas to the
room. Support on all tables was provided by business ambassadors.
Insight Zone: where they were timetabled for 15 min sessions with companies and university departments. 19 different companies and university departments ran activities.
Challenge Zone: where they were timetabled for 30 min experiences with companies and university departments. 10 different companies and university departments ran activities.
The work of students in the Innovation Zone was celebrated in the closing plenary, with teams receiving certificates to reflect the strongest aspects of their work. We gathered voting button data on the impact of the day.
Students also contributed suggestions to the Ideas Wall in answer to the question ‘Please give us your innovative ideas for how technology could improve our health and wellbeing.’ A shortlist was drawn up by experts and the students voted for their favourite with the winner receiving an Amazon Echo speaker, donated by AWS.
