In an effort to inspire and educate the next generation about low-code programming, we – Wouter van Lelyveld and Celeste Vacirca from Valcon – hosted an “Inspiration Session” in June at Agora School in Leiden. Our goal was to demonstrate in a fun and educational way the power and simplicity of building applications with Power Platform, guiding the students through the creation of a PowerApp from scratch, complete with engaging functionalities and an exciting PowerAutomate flow.
The workshop welcomed twelve enthusiastic participants aged 11 to 15, all eager to dive into the world of low-code development. It was an honour to lead this session and introduce these bright young minds to the convenience and enjoyment of low-code technology.
We kicked off the workshop with a presentation about our work at Valcon and the capabilities of the Power Platform, particularly focusing on PowerApps and PowerAutomate. We highlighted the ease of using low code to streamline complex programming tasks. While some students had prior programming experience, such as working with Verse in the Unreal Editor for Fortnite, for most, this was an entirely new adventure. Nevertheless, their intuitive grasp and enthusiasm for the material were impressive.
Observing how technology-savvy the younger generations are becoming, it’s evident that there’s a growing demand for programming education at an early age. It would be fantastic to see programming recognised as an official course in secondary schools, provided there are educators available to teach it. We showed the kids some interesting examples and concluded with a fun quiz.
After the theoretical introduction, we moved on to the practical session. The students contributed ideas for an Excel spreadsheet that would later serve as the data source for their PowerApp. Working in pairs, they extended the data and app with their creativity. The process of building their own PowerApp, even with our guidance, was quite a journey. However, the highlight for many was adding their favourite YouTube videos to the app, which significantly boosted their enthusiasm. The user-friendly interface of the Power Platform played a crucial role, but our live demonstrations on the screen were also essential.
The final feature of the app was to integrate PowerAutomate and to create a button that, when pressed, would send a notification through Microsoft Teams to their favourite teacher. This addition was a perfect way to showcase the practical applications of low-code solutions.
The workshop not only provided a fun-filled learning experience but also inspired the young students to embrace technology and its potential to transform everyday tasks. In conclusion, the session was a significant step towards empowering the younger generation with the knowledge and skills to navigate and innovate in the digital landscape. Despite some students finding the process “not easy” or even “difficult,” they remained engaged until the very end, offering positive feedback.
The success of this event underscores the importance of early exposure to technology and its profound impact on fostering a culture of innovation and creativity.
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