The Premier’s Coding Challenge is an annual statewide initiative for all Queensland students in Year 3 to Year 10. The Premier’s Coding Challenge aims to encourage an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in Queensland students.
Everyone who uses the internet creates a trail of data, this includes websites visited, emails sent and even posts that are liked. This trail of data is called a ‘digital footprint’. Data used to identify a user – such as date of birth, search activities and usernames and passwords – form a ‘digital identity’ that is used to authenticate a user’s identity. This data needs to be kept private to increase security and prevent identity theft.
The challenge
To take part in the challenge, you must code an interactive and innovative digital solution to raise awareness of cybersafety, and help Queenslanders by providing tips to improve their cybersafety. It could be an app, a game, an animation or a website. Your prototype should be visually appealing and informative. Create your own images, or download and provide credit for appropriate images to use in your digital solution.
How to enter
Students can enter as individuals or in pairs.
Entries must be produced using a programming platform that is either free or free for educational purposes.
A valid coding challenge entry must have 2 components:
- A prototype of a digital solution to the challenge. You must submit your code so it may be easily compiled by the selection panel, including specifying the language or application used when creating your digital solution:
- Scratch – upload the SB2 file for your prototype.
- Tynker – copy and paste the share link into a text file and upload the text file.
- Text-based code (e.g. Python or JavaScript) – submit as a text file.
- HTML entires – submit one zipped folder containing all folders, pages, and images. Hot-linked images will not be accepted.
- All other entries – you are reminded to submit your code so it may be easily compiled by the selection panel, including specifying the language or application used when creating your digital solution.
- A video of no more than 90 seconds in duration explaining or evaluating your digital solution.
- The video should be no more than 120MB in size to be uploaded to eAwards.
- Entrants are required to keep and store a high-resolution version of their video that can be used if they are selected as a winner.
- Recommended format for video files: .mpg .avi .mov .mp4.
All Queensland students in Year 3 to Year 10 can enter in 1 of 8 categories:
- Years 3 and 4 – Scratch/Tynker
- Years 3 and 4 – Other
- Years 5 and 6 – Scratch/Tynker
- Years 5 and 6 – Other
- Years 7 and 8 – Python/JavaScript/HTML
- Years 7 and 8 – Other
- Years 9 and 10 – Python/JavaScript/HTML
- Years 9 and 10 – Other.
To enter, students upload their prototype and a presentation highlighting how their entry can be used by midnight 2 September 2019.
Submit your entry
Entries will be assessed against a set of selection criteria by a panel of judges from government, education and industry.
Prizes
Students who enter will be in the running to win some great prizes, such as robotic and Arduino kits, Raspberry PI computers and lots more.
Last year's winners
Check out the
winning entries from last year.
Need help?
There are a number of curriculum and cybersafety resources to guide teachers and support students with their entries including the
Queensland Government cybersafety information and
teaching resources from the Office of the eSafety Commission.
The
Premier's Coding Challenge curriculum alignment to Australia Curriculum: Digital Technologies (PDF, 450KB) can help with creating lesson plans and assessment. Teachers can also access the Queensland Coding Academy teacher site, STEM discussion list and coding discussion list.
If you have any questions, email
coding.competition@qed.qld.gov.au.