Students in Grades 4 to 8 from across the TDSB participated in goIT, a flagship STEM education program, where they had the opportunity to pitch ideas for a mobile app to improve the world. 

For nearly a decade, the TDSB has partnered with Tata Consultancy Services to inspire students to consider careers in computer science and technology, spark curiosity and empower students to develop innovative digital solutions.

This year, students from across the Board developed ideas for a mobile app designed to address one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to make the world a better place by 2030. They then pitched their ideas to a team of judges.

The junior winners, Team RRA from Crestview PS, led by teacher Adrienne Britten, designed an app to alert people to various extreme weather events that are happening in their area.

The intermediate winners, Aayan, Evan B, Evan G and Liam from Cosburn MS, led by teacher Patricia Chong, developed an app prototype called Nutrition Revision to address SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. Through research, said Chong, they recognized that healthy eating is a privilege and not everyone in the world was so fortunate. 

“I'm very proud of my grade 8 students,” said Chong. “GoIT's enriching learning resources walked students through the Design Thinking Process and enabled them to bring in their understanding as app users to becoming app developers themselves. I highly recommend GoIT's app design and AI project to other teachers to satisfy the innovative minds in today's classrooms.” 

Other pitches included an app that enables users to avoid throwing out electronics into landfills, learning how to preserve ocean water, providing access to sustainable and clean sources of energy and one designed to help wildlife in order to fund charities that focus on restoring marine life, habitats and endangered animals. 

Congratulations to all the students and staff involved!