- National Computer Science School
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The National Computer Science School (NCSS) is an annual computer science summer school, organised by the School of Information Technologies at the University of Sydney, Australia, which has taken place annually since 1999 over a seven to nine day period in the January school holidays. Attending students participate in an intensive course in computer programming with Python, culminating in the development of a website and its backend software for presentation to a nominated charity.[1] The summer school also incorporates a number of social activities, competitions and outings.
Contents
Eligibility
Each year NCSS is open to all students in Australia entering Year 12 in the year running, but also considers applications from particularly gifted students entering Year 11. The NCSS program assumes no previous programming or web design experience, and is designed to suit a wide range of abilities and experience. Some students who have participated in the program are invited back the following year.
Activities
In previous years, groups have developed many applications including search engines, wikis, forums, social networks and Content Management Systems.
Students also have the opportunity to participate in networked games, sport and career talk sessions.
As of 2008, the embedded systems course has been running at the school at the same time. This stream, instead of programming a website type system in python, will instead program a robot/microproccessor in the Arduino (similar to C) Language.
The two streams in the school are referred to as the 'embedded' stream and the 'python' stream.
Charities
The main NCSS development projects require (re)designing the web site and building a search engine for a charity organisation, in the past:
- 2009: Youth Insearch
- 2008: Youth off the Streets[2]
- 2007: Hands of Help[3]
- 2006: Conservation Volunteers Australia[citation needed]
- 2005: Stewart House[citation needed]
However in 2010, the tutors needed a new challenge and the project for 2010 was to develop a social networking application very similar to Facebook.
Social Activities
To make things more interesting and engaging for the students attending the school, a number of interesting games and activities are carried out. These may include:
- Trivia Night
- Treasure Hunt
- Cryptography Challenge
- Programming Challenge
- Afternoon Outing
There are other, more interesting activities, which are disclosed only to attendees.
External links
References
University of Sydney Faculties and Schools Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources • Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning • Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences • University of Sydney Business School • Faculty of Dentistry • Faculty of Education and Social Work • Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies • Faculty of Health Sciences • Sydney Law School • Sydney Medical School • Sydney Nursing School • Faculty of Pharmacy • Faculty of Science • Sydney College of the Arts • Sydney Conservatorium of Music • Faculty of Veterinary Science
Residential Colleges St Andrew's College • St John's College • St Paul's College • Sancta Sophia College • Wesley College • The Women's College
Athletics Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness • American Football • Australian Football • Baseball • Boxing • Rugby League • Rugby Union • Soccer Football
Campus Great Hall • Macleay Museum • Nicholson Museum • Seymour Centre • University of Sydney Library
People Alumni • Faculty
Publications Student Life Students' Representative Council • Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association • Sydney University Symphony Orchestra • University of Sydney Union
Categories:- University of Sydney
- Australia university stubs
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