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

coderdojowa@fogartyfoundation.org.au

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