Emerging technologies. Media. Innovation. This will be a big part of the 21st century. If your child is keen to explore the infocomm and media world, we have some exciting news for you. Your child can learn about the latest technology and see how it is applied to solve real-world problems.
Through participating in an infocomm or media CCA (such as an Infocomm Club, Robotics Club, Media Club), that is supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), your child will get to learn valuable skills, gain industry exposure, and build their portfolio.
Sounds interesting? Read on to find out more!
Why is Emerging Technology Important and Relevant to Your Child?
Back in the day, a child’s success was tagged to becoming a doctor, a lawyer or perhaps a businessman. But the definitions of a successful career have moved far beyond those perimeters. Today we are looking at coders, game programmers, vloggers and influencers, and many others who are incredibly successful. What do they all have in common? Mastery in the field of emerging technologies! The future is indeed now!
Today’s world is big on tech. We are talking about emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and so much more! Jobs are rapidly being replaced by technology and we are preparing our children for jobs that don’t even exist yet.
As such, children need to be well acquainted with emerging technologies. Literacy is no longer just about reading and writing. It means being proficient in emerging technologies, video production and so much more.
As parents, it’s important for us to acknowledge and understand this. In fact, a great way to get a head start in preparing for your child’s future is by giving them exposure and opportunities to be proficient in emerging technology.
Give Your Child a Head Start in Preparing for the Future
From sports, to performing arts and Uniformed Groups, CCAs are a great way for children to learn skills beyond what the classroom offers. Furthermore, CCAs also pave the way for students to secure a place in their desired school via the Direct School Application (DSA) programme. You are likely to be well acquainted with all of these.
What you might not know is that clubs and societies offer your child the same benefits. The infocomm or media CCAs will go a long way in giving your child a head start for the future.
Infocomm and media CCAs provide an enriching experience for student club members, through opportunities to pursue their interest, deepen their learning in emerging tech and gain industry exposure. Not every CCA will provide your child with such exposure!
In addition, these CCAs will allow your child to build a strong portfolio for future school admission, secure an internship or even a role in the tech and media industry eventually. So, if your child has expressed his or her dream of working in Apple, Google or LinkedIn, this is the way to go!
CCAs related to infocomm and media are customised to suit the diverse needs and profiles of students. They provide specially curated range of fun and exciting programmes that will ignite your child’s passion in this area.
IMDA functions as the headquarters for the infocomm and media CCAs and they have put in place five pillars to ensure that your child has a holistic and enriching CCA experience.
Five Pillars for Your Child to Get a Head Start in Preparing for the Future
1. DISCOVER: Learning Beyond the Classroom
The bulk of your child’s learning goes towards exam preparation. Well, here’s the perfect opportunity for your child’s learning to go beyond the classroom. Infocomm and media CCAs take its members on learning journeys that will expose them to tech and media through real-world context and applications. This helps in building networks and getting a feel of what the real world is like! Here are some examples of the learning journeys that infocomm and media CCA members have been on:
- Visit to TheSmartLocal to learn about creating digital content and storytelling skills
- Experience live first-person view drone flights and design a program and a drone light show at 65Drones
- Learn tips and tricks of photography techniques at the Canon Imaging Academy
You can visit this website to find out more about the learning journeys that infocomm and media CCA members got to experience.
2. LEARN: Training and Deep Skills Acquisition
Learning comes to fruition when students acquire a specific set of skills. In this case, your child can learn practical skills in domains such as artificial intelligence, game development, mobile application development and new media – all of which are timely and relevant skills that are likely to boost your child’s chances of landing a job in future!
If your child is passionate in these areas, he or she can deepen their knowledge by attending Accelerators and Bootcamps organised by tech giants. This can also help to enhance their portfolios. Here are some examples:
- Participants of the AWS Accelerator programme took part in a challenge to develop solutions for Tampines Town Council and showcased their work to Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development, at the graduation ceremony. Read more about it here.
- As an extension of their learning, members of the Infocomm Club from North Vista Secondary School showcased their project in the Intel Global AI Impact Festival competition 2022, a global platform.
See what we mean? These are great opportunities for your child to network and establish contacts before even venturing into the working world!
3. LEAD: Hone Leadership Skills
CCAs are key to hone your child’s leadership skills. It helps to groom the youth of today to be trailblazers and leaders of tomorrow!
In this respect, student leaders in these CCAs will have the opportunity to meet and be inspired by industry professionals such as C-Suites and content creators like Emil Tan (COO, Red Alpha Cybersecurity), Veerappan Swaminathan (CEO, Sustainable Living Lab and edm8ker) and Ng Ming Wei (Founder, Boom Digital Media), sharing about their knowledge and experiences.
Student leaders also attend workshops where they learn how to be effective leaders. In addition, they get to build their network across schools and come together and identify themselves as being part of the tech and media community.
4. SERVE: Giving Back to the Community Through Values-in-Action Projects (VIA)
Schools have been placing heavy emphasis on VIA as it forms an integral part of a child’s learning journey – giving back to the community. Every CCA aims to include VIA as part of its programme. Likewise, the infocomm and media CCAs provide students with a host of options to serve the community with their tech and media skills. Some of these include:
- Students learnt about Clips, a video editing software, and confidently taught seniors at Kampong Chai Chee CC, and understood their challenges in learning new technology.
- Students learnt about Web 3.0 and shared with members of the public how a decentralised digital wallet works and how it is used to store and present verifiable credentials, thus protecting one’s identity data.
- Students learnt and shared the fundamentals of coding and creating through Minecraft Education Edition and guided parents and young children through block-based coding to build houses and animals.
5. EXCEL: A National Platform to Gain Knowledge, Excel and Receive Recognition
Parents don’t need their children to strive for perfection. Instead, they want them to strive for excellence. In this vein, in 2022, IMDA organised a national competition, known as the Infocomm Media Club (IMC) Youth Awards – for IMCs to ideate, create and inspire others with their innovation and creativity.
The inaugural Infocomm Media Club Youth Awards concluded on Nov 4, where 12 winning teams whose projects in tech and media won praise from the judges. These teams had a chance to go on a one-week internship at J. P. Morgan or Bloomr.SG, along with winning attractive prizes.
There you go, mums and dads, this is a comprehensive guide to help you better understand the role of exciting infocomm and media CCAs in your child’s life. Remember, a CCA goes beyond sports, performing arts and Uniformed Groups.
If you want to give your child a head start in preparing for the future, then the infocomm and media CCAs are definitely a great choice. Visit the IMDA website to find out more about it. Remember, the steps you take today will determine your child’s ability to thrive in a rapidly changing world that is advanced by technology!
