14.6.2022
- Nine teams of finalists presented their projects at the final exhibition
- Winning projects of Generation NOW 2021/2022 are the robot painter "Kotačko", Hobotic 2.0, electronic didactic device, and interactive e-Vase
- 169 institutions participated in the 2021/2022 program
Odabrani najbolji radovi programa Generacija NOW Hrvatskog Telekoma
The winners have been selected for this year's Generation NOW program, carried out by Hrvatski Telekom and the Institute for Youth Development and Innovation (IRIM). Through this year's competition, Hrvatski Telekom, in cooperation with its long-term partner, the Institute for Youth Development and Innovation (IRIM), has invested HRK 700,000 in the further development of STEM in Croatia.
The theme of this year's competition was "Digital Art". It included projects that combine 21st-century art and technology, modern trends, and digitalization. All educational and non-profit institutions that promote STEM could apply for the creative competition. In total, 169 institutions actively participated in the project this school year.
According to the decision of the expert jury, in the first to the fourth grade of primary school category, the best project is the robotic painter "Kotačko"; in the fifth to eighth grade category the winner is Hobotic 2.0, an electronic didactic device, and the best work in the category of high schools is the interactive e-Vase.
The "Kotačko" project is a robotic painter who, instead of brushes, paints with wheels of various relief patterns. It supports manual joystick control and automatic tablet control.
Hobotic 2.0 is an electronic didactic device that has eight tentacles printed with a 3D printer that are controlled by servomotors through a simple but precise lever system. With eight servo motors it is possible to play over one octave and only white keys.
The interactive e-Vase is a decorative item for decorating space with flowers. With the "Blynk" app, you can turn the e-Vase into a functional VU-meter, lamp, reading night light, backlight, thermometer and hygrometer where the temperature or humidity is displayed as a "light column". The e-Vase was modeled with Fusion 360 and printed on a 3D printer and covered with epoxy resin.
"Generation NOW program has been attracting a large number of institutions for years. We are proud that this year 169 institutions from all parts of Croatia participated, of which 60 new ones joined the program. Witnessing the potential of our youngest delights us," said Igor Vukasović, Director of the Corporate Communications Department at Hrvatski Telekom and President of the Jury.
All participants had organized individual mentoring conducted by educators from the Institute for Youth Development and Innovation (IRIM), while Hrvatski Telekom, as before, donated the cutting-edge equipment, and provided free internet access with free data traffic and financially supported them.
"Generation NOW is the largest application of Internet of Things technology in education in Croatia. Over the past six years of cooperation with Hrvatski Telekom, we have educated more than 450 mentors from 360 educational institutions to teach their students the use of modern digital technologies, all with the aim of improving students' competencies in digital technology, problem-solving, teamwork, and presentation skills. We are delighted that from year to year of the Generation NOW project, students' works are increasing in complexity and more exciting," said Paolo Zenzerović, IRIM Business Manager.
This year, the expert Jury was in charge of evaluating all project works, which included, among others, experts from educational institutions and entrepreneurs who are themselves advocates of STEM education and digital skills development.
The Generation NOW competition successfully educated more than 2,700 children and young people throughout Croatia, and more than 360 educational institutions participated in it. Hrvatski Telekom invests significant funds in STEM education. So far, it has invested a total of more than four million kunas in the development of digital skills of students and mentors, which has influenced the development of creativity and innovation of young people with the help of the most modern forms of education.