35 students got their summer holidays off to an exciting start yesterday when they attended an exclusive opening event at Microsoft’s new flagship store in Oxford Circus with social enterprise Rocking Ur Teens. The students were among the first to visit the new shop and get hands on with all it has to offer.
As well as having a tour of the new store, the students took part in a workshop to learn key game design and coding concepts and then had the opportunity to make their own video game. A highlight for many of the students was the opportunity to play some of the latest XBox and PC games in the Gaming Lounge.
As well as having a thoroughly enjoyable time, the students learnt a lot from the experience. They worked in teams, learned to manage and prioritise their time and improved their communication and gaming skills.
One teacher described the trip as an “amazing opportunity.”
Rocking Ur Teens is one of the community organisations to be offered exclusive early access to Microsoft’s new store and workshop. Microsoft selected organisations carefully based on their values resonating with Microsoft’s mission to build meaningful relationships with the local community and ensure technology is more accessible and inclusive to all.
Microsoft’s physical store is one of the ways in which the organisation delivers on its mission to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. The Store is not just for consumers but also for educators, small business owners and enterprise customers – everyone who comes through the door will have access to incredible free experiences, digital learning and training opportunities and a great place to game.
Founded in 2015 with the mission of equipping teens with the skills that leaders of the future need, Rocking Ur Teens has held ten conferences to date, welcoming over 1,500 girls and boys at its annual single sex events in the UK.
Rocking Ur Teens Co-Founder, Jenny Garrett, said: “Visiting Microsoft’s new flagship store was an incredible experience for the teenagers. There is no escaping technology and Rocking Ur Teens is all about inspiring and equipping teenagers with the skills and qualities that need to thrive in the future, to be the best they can be.”
“Visiting this flagship store did exactly that. The students got a taste of coding and were able to engage with tech in a fun way. It really opened their eyes to potential careers in this sector.”
To find out more about Rocking Ur Teens and how to become a sponsor see rockingurteens.com.