Apple's Swift Student Challenge 2024 Introduces New Category for Distinguished Winners and Expands Educational Initiatives
Apple has announced the launch of its Swift Student Challenge for 2024, providing students globally with an opportunity to showcase their creativity and coding skills using the Swift programming language.
Swift Student challenge, opening in February 2024, will feature a new category recognizing 50 Distinguished Winners for standout submissions.
Coding and app development skills are increasingly in demand, with 92% of surveyed students in the United States expressing the importance of learning to code. Apple aims to address the growing interest by releasing new coding resources for students and educators, including updates to the Swift Playgrounds app, designed to guide beginners in exploring and learning coding on iPad and Mac.
To support educators, Apple collaborates with schools globally, offering resources like the Everyone Can Code Projects. These projects provide step-by-step guidance for students to develop essential skills while creating apps that address real-world problems. Apple's initiatives extend to working with organizations like the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) to prepare instructors for teaching App Development with Swift.
The Swift Student Challenge serves as a stepping stone for young talent, and Apple is committed to expanding pathways for success. In 2024, the challenge will recognize 50 Distinguished Winners, with all winners receiving a one-year membership to the Apple Developer Program, enabling them to submit apps to the App Store and receive support from Apple.
Introducing additional resources under the Everyone Can Code initiative to assist educators in introducing app design and development concepts to students.
Apple's new Everyone Can Code Projects, integrated into various subjects, facilitate learning Swift UI—a modern method of building user interfaces. These projects include designing a simple app prototype, building with stacks and shapes, creating custom shapes, and designing an app icon. The goal is to make coding education more accessible and enjoyable for students, whether in the classroom or coding clubs.
The Swift Playgrounds 4.4 update is now available, featuring support for Swift 5.9 and SDKs for iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma.
The Swift Student Challenge submission window for 2024 will be open for three weeks in February. Out of the 350 overall winners, 50 Distinguished Winners will be invited to Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, offering them a unique opportunity to connect with each other and the Apple team.
In summary, Apple's Swift Student Challenge continues to inspire and nurture the next generation of developers, introducing a new category for Distinguished Winners, expanding educational resources, and fostering a global community of young coding enthusiasts.
