TECHNOLOGY experts at Gwent schools have launched their own app after learning about coding.
‘Splotch’ is a multi-platform game designed by six schools in South Wales and led by creative education company Pyka.
The game enables children to choose different defences to build a blob (or splotch) that moves around and fights enemies.
Children of various ages from Duffryn High School and Usk Church in Wales Primary got involved in the making of the app, along with other schools in South Wales.
Greg Ryan, 26, is one of the four Pyka facilitators that led the app making sessions in the schools, and said ‘Splotch’ was designed as a way to introduce children to something that might be seen as boring.
He said: “The course was conceived to teach children about the skills that are needed in the world of app development.
“There was a lot of emphasis on coding and the scientific side of it, but we wanted to make children aware that there’s a whole world past that, including business skills, design and creativity.”
James Lockui, 13, is a year eight student at Duffryn High School who helped make the app with other students.
He said he thinks the app will help promote Duffryn as well as teaching schools about how to design an app.
He said: “I think the app will help build Duffryn’s reputation as the app is quite a public thing.
“The process of just making an app is quite an important thing because you can put it on your CV and it helps you in the future.
“All of it was fun but testing the app was the best bit as we got to iron out the problems.”
The children behind the app enjoyed the launch at The Riverfront Theatre yesterday, with representatives from each school giving a speech about designing it.
‘Paparazzi’ and camera crews were also on hand to make the launch feel like a red carpet event.
The app will soon be available to download for free from the Apple app store.
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