Shrikrishna Madhusudhanan, a class V student of Bala Vidya Mandir Global School, Perungudi, was recently declared winner of the Google India Code to Learn Contest 2016.
He designed a computer shooting game, ‘Shoot to Score’ using ‘Scratch’ platform. The Google India ‘Code to Learn’ contest launched by former President APJ Abdul Kalam has been organized since 2014 for students of classes 5-10, in which children across the country submit projects that can be anything from a software application for a social cause to a game or an educational tool.
Shrikrishna applied for the contest along with 900 other students from the city. After clearing various rounds, he had to compete with nine students from Bengaluru, Mysore and Mumbai for the finals in New Delhi.
“I learned Scratch software in my school robotics lab and this helped in creating basic blocks for the game. Later, with the help of my father (a business analyst) and teachers, I managed to develop codes, and design it on time,” said a cheerful Shrikrishna.
Shrikrishna’s quest for learning Robotics was heightened after the contest as he is creating a soccer game from a software called Scratch, which fetched him the award. Explaining the importance of the software, his Robotics teacher, P. Kalpana said that it has automatic commands, which makes its use interesting to students.
The game has multi-player options and has a command list upfront explaining the various key controls to the user. “Google selected the project for its unique, innovative design. He was keen on not compromising any of the aspects throughout the designing phase,” said Krishna’s mother, M.Shanthini.
Debjani Ghosh, the school principal, said, “The introduction of coding, and robotics as a part of the curriculum has enhanced the analytical and logical thinking of young students.” Krishna plans to pursue medicine and wants to focus his research on robotic arm surgeries.
