Microsoft exec talks tech with Lakeside students

Credit for article:

The Sentinel-Record | November 30, 2016 at 4:00 a.m.

Edited by Krystyna Valdivia for this website

Link to article:

https://www.hotsr.com/news/2016/nov/30/microsoft-exec-talks-tech-with-lakeside/

Lakeside High School students described their personal projects Tuesday to an executive for Microsoft during a global education outreach event.

Sophomore Krystyna Valdivia showcased robots she built and explained she may explore careers in robotics in the future. She first displayed a voice-operated robot she built. "He's mainly for entertainment, but you can also learn things with them," Valdivia said. Valdivia next showed how she used hand gestures to control another robot she programmed. Salcito said robotics is one of the most exciting areas of technology to him.

Lakeside High School was one of more than 40 schools from around the world selected to speak directly with Anthony Salcito, vice president of worldwide education for Microsoft, during the worldwide Skype-a-Thon. Educators from around the world were invited to take virtual field trips, engage in mystery sessions, hear from guest speakers and/or connect with other schools via the internet video call service, Skype.

This year's event marked the third time Salcito pledged to stay awake for 24 hours or more to speak with all of the selected schools consecutively. The 2016 Skype-a-Thon began Tuesday and will continue throughout today.

"Part of the reason I personally do 24 hours is because I just learn so much," Salcito said.

The Skype-a-Thon began with Salcito just speaking to schools for 24 hours. Microsoft has since added other components to complement the sessions.

"We have grown this into a much more global movement and I am excited about that," Salcito said. "For me, I love the opportunity to connect and it is fun to see the change we see from classroom to classroom."