An Introduction to Community Coding Clubs - CoderDojo WA
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Transcript of An Introduction to Community Coding Clubs - CoderDojo WA
Karen Wellington, Program Manager (CoderDojo WA)
@karentton / @coderdojowa
What does an ideal
future look like?
Source: code.org (United States)
By 2020, the Australian
information technology
sector will be short
of 25,000 workers.
Source: The Australian
Information Industry Association
What skills are needed?
Source: Economist Intelligence Unit, 2015
How can we help young
people learn these skills?
CoderDojo is a world-wide open source social
education movement oriented around running free
computer coding clubs (“Dojos”) for young people
aged 7-17 (“Ninjas”).
Our mission is to get kids coding.
Our vision is for all young Western Australians to be able to access opportunities that help
them get coding.
Our purpose is to make sure WA has a bright future.
What exactly is a “CoderDojo”
and how does it make learning to code fun?
What is a CoderDojo?
Basic Dojo terminology
NINJA: 7-17 year old participant
CHAMPION: Dojo organiser
MENTOR: Person who mentors ninjas
3 basic traits of a CoderDojo
1. A CoderDojo or “Dojo” for short, is a relaxed social environment for budding coders: it’s a club not a class
1. Mentors provide assistance2. Free to attend: no cost, and club
is not compulsory
How the philosophies of the CoderDojo movement work in a
community/educational setting
1. Multiple contact points 2. Unstructured time provided3. Peer-to-peer learning encouraged4. Ninjas encouraged to share their code 5. Environment of continuous
adaptation
What are the aims of a Dojo?
1. Get Ninjas coding2. Encourage Ninjas to become self-
motivated learners3. Get Ninjas working on projects4. Get Ninjas helping each other
Types of learning interactions
THE PAST? THE DOJO MODEL
One teacher controls the
group
Champions / Mentors facilitate
the group
Teacher responsible for the
learnings of students
Ninjas are encouraged to
become responsible for their
own learning
Students are learning, teacher
is teaching.
Ninjas AND Mentors learn and
help each other.
Everyone is learning the
same thing at the same time
Everyone is free to learn and
work on what they like (code
related).
The Dojomodel
The past
Types of learninginteractions
How to be a great mentor
Tips for mentoring young people at a Dojo
1. Be authentic. Engage in genuine relationship building (ask, listen and get to know the Ninjas)
2. Utilise the “grandmother method”3. Share your passion / interest4. Reconnect with what you find fun and interesting5. Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know”6. Work together to find solutions7. Allow for space and free time8. RELAX - Technology is “hacky” by nature. You don’t
need to be polished or perfect. 9. You are modelling curiosity and determination learning
behaviours rather than “teaching.”
CREATIVITY OFFICER
NINJA
NINJA
CHAMPION
CHAMPION
PARENT
MENTOR
MENTOR
MENTOR
MENTORMENTOR
PARENTNINJA
NINJA
NINJA
NINJA
MENTOR
NINJA
A Dojo is
A club where young people aged
7-17 can make new friends and
get coding with help from
volunteer Mentors.
A Dojo is not
A structured classroom
setting where instructors
teach students.
The way of the Dojo
• Must be free to attend
• Ninjas attend by choice (Dojos should not be compulsory)
• Venues are donated / provided for free by host organisations
• Can be run by staff within organisations or by volunteers
• Mentors can be staff or volunteers
Ninjaslove
Dojos
“Finding new people with similar interests and hobbies”
“being able to make whatever we want out of code”
“Nerds Get together and code their hearts out and not feel embarrased”
“Being able to have the freedom of making my own things”
“I liked how we could just use the session for whatever we liked and were not confined to one activity”
“I liked how they just show you how to do it and bam you're free to do what you want”
“I LIKE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO ALL BE DOING THE SAME THING AND THAT WE GOT TO PLAY AROUND WITH THE PROGRAMS AND NOT JUST COPYING OFF THE BOARD.”
What Ninjas like about attending a Dojo
Key benefits for Ninjas
1. They can develop problem solving skills
2. They can develop responsibility and initiative for their own learning
3. They can develop social skills and friendships
What is “open source” and what has it got to do with CoderDojo?
3 basic traits of open source
1. Source code is freely available for use and modification
2. Source code is typically created collaboratively by a network of coders, usually at no charge
3. Source code is free to use
CoderDojo is an open source social education movement.
1. Concept is freely available for use and modification
2. Coding clubs are collaboratively organised
3. CoderDojo sessions are free to attend
CoderDojo is an open source network
organisation and CoderDojo WA is a branch
of this network.
Getting young people codingneeds a network approach
What does this mean for you?
1. You can start and run a CoderDojo with no permission needed
2. You can run sessions as you wish, for varied purposes
3. You can join a worldwide network4. You can contribute locally and make a
difference5. You can encourage young people to lead
In a network, all participants can develop relational leadership skills
What does CoderDojo WA do?
- Training for Champions and Mentors
- Supporting the University Dojos (not running them)
- Enabling partnerships within the community
- Running social, awards and presentation events
- Participating in STEM community events
- Promoting STEM/coding careers to young people
Training sessions for the community
Supporting the university Dojos
Running information sessions
Running an awards event
WA Dojo LocationsSupported University LocationsCurtin University, Edith Cowan Joondalup, Edith Cowan Mt Lawley, Murdoch University, UWA.
Independent DojosDunsborough Primary School, All Saints College, Bankwest, Mount Claremont PEAC, Perth Modern, Shenton College, Singleton Primary School, Yule Brook College and more
all the time.
How to start a Dojo?
1. Sign up via www.coderdojo.com2. Source a venue3. Set a date and time (minimum 4
sessions)4. Decide who your Ninjas will be5. Arrange mentors if possible6. Promote the Dojo7. Facilitate the Dojo sessions
As a leader in this network, you do not need
to ask me for permission to do anything! This
is your opportunity to craft an experience that
will change the lives of your Ninjas.
Keep us in the loop: @coderdojowa /
#coderdojowa
7 suggested elements of a Dojo session
1. Icebreakers2. Inspiration3. Hands-on activities4. Challenges5. Project ideas6. Unstructured time
(ESSENTIAL) 7. Show me the code
How to plan content for Dojo sessions
1. Consider the age range / experience level2. Ask Ninjas if they have been doing any coding yet3. Encourage Ninjas to use online resources (Scratch
MIT, Codecademy, Lightbot, Crunchzilla, Khan Academy, Mozilla Thimble) and so on
4. Together, look for inspiration – for projects that other Ninjas / Dojos have worked on. Try and find something that the group can work on together
5. Take advantage of external challenges: hackathons, competitions etc
6. Bring in “inspiration” (guest speakers) etc7. Don’t be too structured, allow for free time.
How to ensure engagement with diverse groups of young people
1. Be aware of different “hooks”. Some Ninjas are interested in the technology itself. Others are motivated by the opportunity to create art, make a game, tell a story, to be social or to solve a problem
2. Try not to focus on the students who are naturally good at maths and science. Anyone can be a coder
3. You don’t need to be naturally “good at maths” to be a coder. It’s about being determined
4. Help Ninjas search for their own code and technology related “role models”
Karen Wellington, Program Manager (CoderDojo WA)
@karentton / @coderdojowa
FIN