7th ExYLeNT 2013 – Day 1

The day started with the arrival of kids from different parts of the world, including Oman, Egypt, and Palestine, along with their parents and guardians, at SEECS. A reception desk was arranged right beside the Seminar Hall, sitting there and guiding the people to the Seminar Hall was a volunteer student at SEECS, Tooba Arshad, accompanied by the project lead Sir Kashif Sharif. On the arrival of all the participants, the wait for the Chief Guest, Murtazza Zaidi, and Principle SEECS, Dr. Arshad Ali, started. Meanwhile, a motivational video was played to get the kids excited and all the instructors, TA’s and the other organizers introduced themselves and a brief about environment in which the students will be working was given. Finally, the guest came and the first phase of the day started. Hassnain Arshad started the session and introducing Dr. Arshad Ali, with a long list of his achievements, called him on stage. The Principal SEECS gave a motivational speech comprising a briefing on the day to day activities assuring the people that their children are in safe, friendly and capable hands along with a lecture on time management and punctuality. Sir Kashif Sharif was called upon the stage who concentrated on the aim and motto of the exercise i.e. improving the logic building and problem solving mindset of the future of the nation which will help them in better contribution towards the development of the society. After him the respected guest was invited on the stage. He was deeply inspired by all the work and effort that made the event possible. And convinced the listeners that youth, energy and talent when utilized leads to the beginning of a new era.

The end of the speech brought forth the end of the introductory session, concluding it with the presentation of a shield to the Chief Guest, Murtazza Zaidi. Different projects of the last year’s event and the participant’s interviews were also shown to the participants to encourage and motivate them. A tea break was given to all the people of about an hour, followed by the ice-breaking activities.

Children were escorted to the seminar hall for the ice-breaking activities, after the teas and cakes and lots of chattering. Sir Kashif Sharif very enthusiastically yelled the starting of the first activity of the ice break session. A paper was given to the participants with interesting questions along with their introduction. After five minutes of the distribution they were asked to come to the stage to read in front of all what they had written. Quantity of children wanting to be carrots, if they were a vegetable, was disturbing! The second activity started when the children were asked to arrange themselves in the order of their heights. Then they were distributed in groups of four, and sent on a task of discovering four common things that the complete group liked. A job Very well done by all! The third activity involved people in a pair, as they were asked to stand face to face, looking in the eyes. The one who laughed first was to be eliminated. Three round were held. Must say, Very Funny expressions!

The Third activity concluded the Ice breaking session. As the participants were escorted to the café for lunch.

After the break the participants were, finally assembled in the lab where they were introduced to the kits and the schedule of the days and there day to day activities by Madam Sarah. After that the participants were asked to assemble in groups of two, and each group was given an NXT kit and asked to assemble a 5 minute Bot, using a full step by step guide. The groups enthusiastically indulged themselves in work. And finally after about twenty minutes we had a Robot made and running. The

successful group of such bright students was ‘Limited Edition’. And then came a series of bots up and running. These bots concluded the day’s work as the, now, tired participants left the lab to share their little adventure with their family waiting to pick them up.

Written by: Shaheer Muzammil, Sophomore Student of Bachelors of Software Engineering at SEECS, NUST