On Wednesday 11th October, students at Harmeny participated in a DYW (Developing the Young Workforce) Day. The day was designed to give them a taste of different careers and industries, and to help them each develop their skills and knowledge.
The day consisted of a range of different workshops, from understanding wiring and learning about maintenance to programming AI. The day also showed the students that learning can be fun and engaging, encouraging them to think about their futures.
Maintenance
The maintenance workshop consisted of a variety of activities, led by Harmeny’s own Estates Team.
The students were taught how to use basic tools safely and effectively to repair a damaged chair, strip wires and connect a plug. They learned about the different types of wires and cables, and saw how plugs are put together.
By the end of the session, the students had a good understanding of the basics of wiring and they were able to identify different types of wires and cables. Understanding the importance of good maintenance gave them an insight of how every day objects are put together and function.
Rugby
Pupils also had the opportunity to try playing rugby. They were taught the basic rules of the game and how to tackle safely. In groups they then played a game of rugby against each other. Graham, from Boroughmuir Bears Rugby Club, was keen to give our young people a “sense of achievement” through sport.
The pupils all had a lot of fun playing rugby, enjoying the challenge and the physicality of the sport, as well as working together as a team after learning the basics of the game.
By the end of the session, the students had a better understanding of the game of rugby and saw how teaching sports was a career opportunity they might be interested in. They had also learned how to tackle safely and how to work together as a team.
One of the young people said, “I’m not a big fan of rugby, but I had a lot of fun playing it today. I think I could teach rugby or other sports.”
STEM and Project Management
Students participated in both STEM and Project Management activities led by Leonardo UK. Leonardo UK is a leading engineering company that works on a variety of projects, including aerospace, defence, and security.
The STEM activity was designed to give the students a taste of the breadth of engineering work. Jonah, from Leonardo, commented: “The key message is that you don’t have to be a wizz at maths to work in the world of engineering. If you’re good at something, there is an opportunity for you.”
During the session, the students learned how to work together as a team and to test a tracking system trained to detect teddy bears. They learnt the process of design, building and trialing, and gained an understanding of the world of engineering.
The students also learned about project management, and what would be involved in running a business. They learned about the different stages of a project, how to create a project plan, and how to manage resources effectively. The students also learned about the importance of teamwork and communication.
Lisa, from Leonardo, aimed to “create as close to a real life scenario as possible, using Lego to show the process of manufacturing and assembling.”
Throughout the sessions, the students worked together in different roles to see what it would be like to order and manufacture a helicopter. Through this they saw what skills could be useful in their future career, regardless of industry.
By the end of the session, the students had a good understanding of the basics of project management. They learnt how to create a project plan, manage resources effectively, make deals and work as a team to achieve common goals.
One pupil said: “I learned a lot about project management and running a business. I didn’t know what project management was to begin with, so it was interesting to see how all the different pieces fit together.”
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
In another session, the students programmed AI to distinguish between dogs and cats. They used a variety of different images of animals to create a machine learning model that could classify the two groups. The session was led by Kiera from the IT company TCS, who guided the students through the process step-by-step.
The students were all very excited about the AI programming session, especially the opportunity to gather pictures of pets! They had never programmed an AI before, but they were eager to learn and surprised to learn just how much AI there was in day-to-day life.
By the end of the session, the students had created a machine learning model that could accurately identify dogs and cats. They were all very proud of their accomplishment, and finished the session eager to learn more about AI programming with the knowledge they had gained.
Overall the day was a great success. It gave the young people at Harmeny the opportunity to use their skills in different ways, and learn more about the world of work. They saw how important teamwork is in a variety of careers, from sports to STEM.
The DYW Day was a valuable learning experience for all of the students involved. It helped them to explore different career options and to develop their skills and knowledge.
