How to Start and Run a Dojo in Western Australia
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Welcome to “How to Start and Run a Dojo” Before the session starts, chat to others here: 1. What brought you here today? 2. What are you passionate about? 3. Are you learning or studying anything? Discuss
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Transcript of How to Start and Run a Dojo in Western Australia
Welcome to “How to Start and Run a Dojo”
Before the session starts, chat to others here:
1. What brought you here today?2. What are you passionate about?3. Are you learning or studying anything?
Discuss
Karen Wellington, Program Manager (CoderDojo WA) @karentton / @coderdojowa
Why?
What does an ideal future look like to you?
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 move towards these
careers?
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”).
What exactly is a “CoderDojo”
and how does it make learning
to code fun?
What is a CoderDojo?
The people in a Dojo
Ninja7-17 year old participant
ChampionDojo organiser
MentorPerson who mentors ninjas
The ingredients of a Dojo
Ninjas
1-3 Champions
A room
Computers
Mentors
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
2. Mentors provide assistance3. Free to attend: no cost, and
club is not compulsory
What’s special about a CoderDojo coding
club?
1. People get to know each other after repeat sessions
2. Unstructured time gives Ninjas the space they need
3. Peer-to-peer learning is encouraged
4. Ninjas are encouraged to share their code
5. Dojos are environments of continuous adaptation
What are the aims of a Dojo?
1.Get Ninjas coding by choice
2.Encourage Ninjas to become self-motivated learners
3.Get Ninjas working on projects
4.Get Ninjas helping each other
Types of learning interactionsTHE 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.
All students are 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
NINJA
NINJA
CHAMPION
CHAMPION
PARENT
MENTOR
MENTOR
MENTOR
MENTORMENTOR
PARENTNINJA
NINJA
NINJA
NINJA
MENTOR
NINJA
NINJA
What is mentoring?
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.”
A Dojo isA club where young
people aged 7-17 can gather an work on their coding projects.
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• Champions/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 Dojos
Howto starta Dojo
How to start a Dojo?STEP 1 – Connect with the
CoderDojo community
1. Register as a Champion 2. Join the online CoderDojo WA
community on Yammer3. Sign up to the CoderDojo WA
mailing list4. Connect on social media (
links here)
How to start a Dojo?STEP 2 – Plan your Dojo
1. Get a Working With Children Check
2. Find a venue3. Set a date and time4. Think about your Ninjas5. Register your new Dojo6. Promote7. Think about Mentors
How to run a Dojo session?
1. Introduce the session, welcome Ninjas. Remind them that this is a club, not a class.
2. Introduce yourself and any Mentors or special guests
3. Provide some inspiration or suggestions
4. Free time for coding. Use the Dojo menu or other resources to
5. Show me the code
Using the “Dojo Menu” idea
A la carte, buffet or both….
7 suggested elements of a Dojo session
1. Introductions2. Icebreakers 3. Inspiration4. Hands-on activities5. Project ideas /
competitions6. Free time (ESSENTIAL),
using the Dojo Menu7. Show me the code
Tips for planning 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”
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 international
movement, and CoderDojo WA is a
members association for anyone running Dojos in WA.
OUR MISSIONTo get kids coding
OUR VISIONCoding clubs right across WA
OUR PURPOSEto make sure WA has a bright future
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
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
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
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.
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