About the IT Showcase

IT Showcase Overview

The Girls' IT Showcase is an exhibit that showcases the Grade 12 Information Technology (IT) Performance Assessment Task (PAT) projects developed by South African girls. These exceptional projects are coded during the matric year.

Programme - 3 October 2024

16h00 – 18h00 :  Performance Assessment Tasks Exhibits

18h00 – 19h00 :  AI in IT Panel Discusion

19h00 – 20h00 :  Judges Feedback


The IT Showcase aims to create a gathering place for Grade 12 IT students, businesses, and tertiary institutions. After a three-year break due to COVID, this year's IT Showcase focuses on uplifting women in coding. Esteemed judges from the University of Witwatersrand, the University of Johannesburg, and the University of Pretoria, as well as industry leaders from Entelect and Dariel Solutions, will interact with the project and provide valuable feedback.


The event allows male and female learners from lower grades to attend and view the projects. They can engage with exhibitors and sponsors, gaining insights into IT-related careers and hopefully finding inspiration to consider IT as a subject. The showcase also serves as a platform for companies and members of the school communities to exhibit their products and share information about IT-related careers in their industry.


In addition, the Girls' IT Showcase offers various benefits to participants. While it is not a competition, exhibit participants receive goodie bags as a token of appreciation for their involvement. The exhibit is made possible through generous donations from companies and members of the school communities.


The IT Showcase was conceptualised by Delia Kench, when she was HOD Information Technology of St Benedict's School for Boys in Bedfordview. She is now HOD IT at Assumption Convent School for girls. She is passionate about celebrating women's achievements in IT. Since its establishment in 2011, the showcase has grown significantly, attracting students from independent and government schools in Gauteng and beyond. In 2023, the IT Showcase was changed to focus on Girls in Coding.

Showcase Details

Exhibitors

  • This is NOT a competition.
  • Please view other PATs and encourage fellow exhibitors.
  • All feedback will be aimed at improving exhibitors PATs and inspiring learners developing future PATs.
  • Performance Assessment Tasks that make use of mobile or alternative devices (such as a bar code reader) are strongly encouraged.
  • Alternate platforms such as Unity are Google Suite encourage provided they adhere to the IT PAT requirements.

Very important

  • ANY learner can attend the showcase.
  • Judges awards will be discretionary based on the performance they wish to recognise.

 

Exhibitor Information

A participant can exhibit any type of IT PAT. Please bring the following:
    1. Code: bring a the coded solution on a laptop or desktop.
    2. Documentation: bring a printed copy of your Specification, Design, Technical, Code and Testing documention.

Prizes won in 2018

  • All participants were acknowledged by the judges and received a cash prize
  • All participants received a Goodie Bag 

Previous years

Thank you to our sponsors

  • “If you give people tools, and they use their natural abilities and their curiosity, they will develop things in ways that will surprise you very much beyond what you might have expected.” ― Bill Gates (Microsoft)

  • "Let’s go invent tomorrow instead of worrying about what happened yesterday" - Steve Jobs (Apple)

  • "If you have a product that's really gaining a lot of usage, then it's probably a good idea." - Larry Page (Google)

  • “Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.” ― Bill Gates (Microsoft)