Calling young talents! Sign up for an exciting expedition through the network jungle!
Teachers are recommending it, and schoolchildren from all the regions of Switzerland are giving all they’ve got in implementing it. We are, of course, talking about the Junior Web Award (JWA). SWITCH launched this project in 2007 with a view to instilling a fascination for the Internet and its technicalities in the minds of the young generation.
Creativity instead of mere passive consumption
For young people, the Internet is a well-established element of daily life. However, this is often only from the perspective of a user. Very few youngsters are familiar with how to create web contents of their own. Participating in the Junior Web Award gives teachers a means of integrating modern communication and information technologies in their tuition with a strong practical focus. Participation in the competition costs absolutely nothing. On top of that, SWITCH provides a whole package of absolutely free resources: professional instructions, programs for image processing, for creating the website and for administering it and, of course, the domain name for it to use.
An award in which the public has a big say
The schoolchildren design their own website and they are free to chose whatever subject matter they like. The skills they acquire in a creative manner through so doing range from project work and Internet copyright through to making searches and working as a team. Their work is judged in an initial vote open to the general public and then by a hand-picked panel of expert judges. The classes with the best results can look forward not only to some superb prizes but also to a lot of recognition outside of their classrooms.