【Event Recap】Sham Shui Po District Inter-School Innovation and Technology Competition 2023-2024

The Sham Shui Po District Inter-School Innovation and Technology Competition 2023-24 was successfully held on February 24th. We extend our sincere gratitude to the organizers, the Sham Shui Po District Office, and the Sham Shui Po School Liaison Committee for their invaluable support. Trumptech is absolutely thrilled to have been the program operator, working alongside the industry's top-notch professionals in the field of technology education.Together, we were captivated by the awe-inspiring superpowers of the talented primary and secondary school students in the Sham Shui Po district.Their commitment to creating a positive impact on their community was truly inspiring.

The competition brought together a total of 17 teams, comprising around 100 enthusiastic primary and secondary school students from the district. We are overjoyed and deeply honored to have had the privilege of inviting esteemed professionals from the Sham Shui Po District Office and the technology education industry to serve as our esteemed judges. Their expertise and guidance provided invaluable feedback to the talented participating students, making the event even more meaningful and rewarding.

(From Left) Dr LI Wai Chin, Associate Professor; Associate Registrar of Registry in Department of Science and Environmental Studies at The Education University of Hong Kong, Professor WONG, Gary K. W., Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at The University of Hong Kong, Mr. WONG Yan Yin, Paul, JP, District Officer in Sham Shui Po District Office, Dr Jimmy Wong, Executive Director at The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education, Miss LAI Ho Ting, Ally, Assistant District Officer in Sham Shui Po District Office, Professor CHAN, Tak Wah Dominic, Professor in the Department of Chemistry at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Dr. C.X. Lai, Scientific Officer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Designing improvement solutions around 3 major community issues

The theme of this competition revolves around addressing community issues in Sham Shui Po. Students were tasked with selecting one of three social challenges—Subdivided Housing Problem, Rear Lane Cleansing, or Population Ageing—as the focus of their projects. Their objective was to propose innovative technological solutions that could enhance the lives of residents in Sham Shui Po.

In the secondary school division, teams were required to present their creative concepts using prototype models during their presentations. They were encouraged to incorporate micro:bit into their designs, allowing them to simulate the operations of their products through live demonstrations.

In the primary school division, teams were tasked with presenting their community solutions using display boards. They were encouraged to explore various aspects, including the causes of the community issues, their vision, the benefits of their solutions, potential challenges during implementation, and any optimized possibilities.

Engaging with the community to understand the lives of Sham Shui Po residents

The initial step in effective problem-solving is to identify the main issues at hand. To support this process, several engaging field trips were organized for the students. These field trips offered a valuable opportunity for the students to immerse themselves in the community, closely observe their surroundings, and actively interact with the residents to gain a deep understanding of their genuine needs. The insights acquired during these activities played a crucial role in stimulating the students' creative thinking, empowering them to develop practical and impactful solutions for improvement.

Subdivided Housing Problem: ‘Trapped Experience Centre Exhibition’
The students had the opportunity to visit the 'Trapped Experience Centre Exhibition,' organized by the Society for Community Organization. Launched in 2023, the exhibition provided a firsthand experience of the living conditions in subdivided flats, where multiple individuals share a single toilet and kitchen. This eye-opening experience helped raise awareness among the students about the pressing housing problem.

Rear Lane Cleansing: Sham Shui Po Rear Lane Tour
The students were accompanied by knowledgeable tour guides as they embarked on an exploration of the rear lanes in the region, aiming to deepen their understanding of the pertinent environmental, hygienic, and security issues. Furthermore, they had the opportunity to visit 'Snake Alley,' where the "Government Programme on Tackling Hygiene Black Spots" was implemented. This visit offered valuable insights into the government's successful utilization of innovative technological methods to effectively address environmental and hygiene concerns.

Population Ageing: Visit to an Elderly Centre
During their visit to the HKYWCA, the students gained a profound insight into the daily needs and challenges faced by the elderly residents. They actively engaged with the elderly, seeking their valuable feedback on the feasibility of the proposed solutions. Additionally, as a heartwarming gesture, the students took the opportunity to send heartfelt blessings to the elderly through thoughtful cards, wishing them a joyful Christmas filled with warmth and happiness.

Learning design thinking and exploring in AI enterprise

This competition also provided students with valuable learning opportunities. These included engaging creative technology workshops that foster design thinking skills, as well as guided tours of SenseTime Technology based in HKSTP to enhance their understanding of technology enterprises.

During the creative technology workshops, instructors guided students through the process of design thinking, which involves analyzing user backgrounds (creating persona), creating conceptual storyboards, and conducting user research.

The guided tour allowed students to gain a deeper understanding of advanced artificial intelligence technologies, such as autonomous driving and facial recognition, and how they can enhance productivity and improve community living.

Competition day and Ceremony

On the competition day, all 17 teams arrived at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University with their well-prepared entries to participate in the day's presentation and exhibition.

The teams are required to do a 10-minute presentation and a 5-minute question-and-answer session. During their presentation, their practical and innovative ideas impressed the judges. For example, they have designed a mobile application specifically for single elderly individuals, which utilizes facial recognition and an AI chatbot function. Additionally, they have developed a home monitoring camera with body movement recognition, capable of detecting whether an elderly person has fallen at home.

After the presentation, the teams participated in the showcase. The Favourite Innotech Award had been set up for the competition, which was eventually awarded to the team that received the highest number of on-site votes! The atmosphere at the event was vibrant, with each team carefully setting up their exhibits at their designated booths. They passionately promoted their creations to the attending guests, including school principals, teachers, and fellow students, putting forth their utmost efforts to gather support for their projects!

Sham Shui Po District Inter-School Innovation and Technology Competition 2023-2024 Winner list

Primary School Division

Secondary School Division

Congratulations to all the winning teams once again! We hope that the competition provided teams with a meaningful experience, encouraging students to focus on community issues, cultivate teamwork, and apply technology to make a positive impact.

Check out the event album!【Click here】