10th May 2007

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Graham Taylor, James Shiels, Rachel Brennan and David Gibson

A team of University of Ulster computing students have won second place in the Ireland Final of the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2007.

David Gibson, James Shiels, Graham Taylor and Rachel Brennan are studying in the School of Computing and Information Engineering (SCIE) at the Coleraine campus.  

The successful team, who were mentored by PhD student Therese McGinnis, fought off stiff competition from nine other finalists to scoop second prize.

Their project, the ‘Fun Phonics Game’, involved the creation of prototype educational software designed to improve reading skills at primary school level, using Linguistic Phonics.  

The team gathered information from the Literacy Team in Belfast Educational and Library Board (BELB) and worked with Ballykelly Primary School, to evaluate their approach. 

BELB see long term potential in the game and are working with SCIE to find funding to bring the prototype up to a level for general use. It can then be released as a support tool for Linguistic Phonics teaching and learning, which would include use by parents and children at home, as well as with teachers in schools. 

Dr Michaela Black, lecturer in Computing Science, said: “This has been a great opportunity for the students. With most of the team having just one year’s experience on a computing course, the project was certainly challenging but they have proven they are all very capable and focused.  There were many aspects to the team challenge and they mastered them all through excellent preparation and individual skill.  They worked well as a team and were full of enthusiasm.”

David Gibson, one of the winning students added: “The day was amazing, something I will never forget. The whole competition has been such a wonderful experience, I am very lucky to have taken part in it and feel that not only have I gained this experience, but I have also made new friends as well.”  

For further information, please contact:

Press Office, Department of Communication and Development
Tel: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk