The talent, hard work and social commitment of the pupils at Casvi Villaviciosa have once again reached the very top at national level. Our pupils in Year 3 of Secondary Education have claimed victory in the Compulsory Secondary Education category at the 11th edition of RetoTech. This is a prestigious educational innovation project promoted by the Endesa Foundation in collaboration with BQ Educación.
This initiative aims to promote STEAM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics). It also seeks to foster technological entrepreneurship amongst young people, challenging schools across Spain to develop technological projects aimed at addressing real needs in their local communities.
AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE AT ENDESA’S HEADQUARTERS
The grand final took place in the iconic main hall of Endesa’s headquarters in Madrid, which had been transformed for the occasion into an impressive technology fair. Dozens of primary and secondary schools from across the country gathered there, setting up their information stands.
For the delegation from Casvi Villaviciosa — comprising the pupils and the teachers who accompanied them — the announcement of the award came as a huge and thrilling surprise. The months of intensive preparation in the Technology lab were rewarded on this thrilling day for everyone. This is confirmed by their Technology and Digitalisation teacher, Carlos Yubero: “I feel deeply proud of the level of commitment, dedication and insatiable enthusiasm that the pupils have brought to this project from day one.”
TECHNOLOGY WITH A HEART: AN INCLUSIVE MACHINE FOR AUTISM AND COLOUR BLINDNESS
The winning project developed by our students consists of a complex piece of machinery capable of automating the precise mixing of the three primary colours (cyan, magenta and yellow), together with white and black, to produce any required shade.
The real challenge was not just mechanical, but also involved programming and hardware. The entire system is meticulously controlled via a BQ Zum Core board, relays, small water pumps, motors and a range of parts that the students themselves modelled and 3D-printed at the centre itself.
However, what truly won over the jury and the audience was the social purpose of this invention: a clear commitment to inclusive technology. The machine was designed to help people with colour blindness and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The system is very simple and intuitive to use via a tablet, with colour selection and creation controlled via an adapted interface featuring clear illustrations, supporting text and audio cues.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO A UNITED COMMUNITY
This historic achievement would not have been possible without the support of so many people. We at Casvi Villaviciosa would like to express our sincere thanks to all the participating schools for the exceptionally high standard they demonstrated and the healthy spirit of competition they shared. We would also like to thank everyone in our community who took the time to vote for us in the competition.
Finally, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Endesa Foundation and to BQ Education for organising the 11th RetoTech Spain competition, a competition that is essential for stimulating and promoting real technology in classrooms.
Well done, champions! Your hard work shows that technology has the power to make the world a more accessible place for everyone.
