In the largest event of its kind, 50 volunteers from Amazon Web Services and AWS Educate, along with teachers and support staff from the Workplace Learning Network recently provided a full week of Virtual Work Placements to 275 students from 36 high schools across NSW.

As part of this collaboration, students worked in teams with AWS Mentors who are world leaders in cloud computing technology and artificial intelligence (AI). With their mentors, students developed a ChatBot computer program that simulates human conversation through voice or text command using AI technology.

Students experienced what it would be like to join the industry and learn how AWS solves customers’ technology problems by “working backwards” to the solution.

Mid Coast Connect's Work Placement Program Manager Sandra Slattery said the standard of training students received was extraordinarily high and introduced students to IT skills that will drive innovation in the future.

“For students in rural and regional areas, this hands-on experience can be limited. Being able to offer mentoring through a virtual experience with world-class IT mentors has been invaluable experience”.

IT student, Dylan from Newman Senior Technical College said the work was interesting and intriguing. Teacher, Glen Northey from Wauchope High School, said “The Amazonians were very professional and great role models”.   

By the end of the week mentors selected a range of students to present their working prototype apps, using AI powered image recognition through AWS Rekognition, Natural Language Processing Chatbots, and Cognito user authentication security.

With Covid 19 disrupting education and most of the IT industry now working remotely, NSW VET teachers and Work Placement Service providers were very worried about students achieving their mandatory work placement hours. AWS staff were able to demonstrate how the industry is working remotely and also provide a high-quality workplace learning experience.