Stop the press: Island youngsters hunt for Games scoop

Saturday 27 June 2015

It's not just the island's sportsmen and women who will be aiming for the top this week - a team of local schoolchildren will be getting their first break in journalism, and sharing their Island Games stories here on Bailiwick Express.

The budding reporters will cover every sport in the Games and each day you'll be able to read their reports, and watch their video coverage on our special Island Games sports pages.

With the Games due to officially open tonight, the young reporters went along to the last-minute rehearsals for the launch ceremony - you can see their first video diary by clicking here.

The team of schoolchildren, some as young as eight, are being trained up in an initiative led by the Education Department's E-Safety and E-Learning Manager Jon Tarrant. They'll be using a system called Makewaves:

“Learning to collaborate and communicate safely online is a key skill for young people today and the Makewaves platform allows schools to teach responsible social networking activities that will serve pupils well in the future. Combining that with the NatWest Island Games, we have a unique opportunity for pupils in Jersey to show what they can do with the digital media skills that we have been developing through our new computing curriculum.”

Most children already know how to use the Makewaves platform as it's now used widely in schools across the Island. Specialist technology trainer Alan Thompson of Hi-Impact and his team have been working to bring innovative technologies into classrooms.

Mr Thompson said: “Over the last year we have seen how keen teachers are able to enrich and enhance teaching and learning by embracing new technologies. When we heard about the NatWest Island Games, we knew they would offer real ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunities that our Jersey schoolchildren would love. We are looking forward to becoming a very special part of the Island Games’ legacy in Jersey.”