coder dojo

Morag

This is starting up again after the christmas break and I figured I'd share as there may be other parent's who's kids may be interested.
It is aimed at 10 to 17 year olds and it's free and they teach and share learning how to code with mentors.
Currently in Dublin it's running in the science gallery for 4 hours on a Saturday.

http://coderdojo.com/about-us/

About Us

CoderDojo is a not-for-profit organisation founded by James Whelton and Bill Liao that teaches kids how to code. It aims to teach kids creative problem solving skills and practical creative skills. It fulfills a void left by the Irish education system. Alongside teaching kids we also hope to provide an outlet for kids who know how to code to meet other kids with similar interests and work on projects in an environment with their peers around them, similar to how a co-working space works but less formal.
A bit of history

CoderDojo was first started in James Whelton’s school in early 2011 when James received some publicity after hacking the iPod Nano and some younger students expressed an interest in learning how to code. He setup a , computer club in his school where he started teaching basic HTML and CSS.

Later that year he met Bill Liao, a entrepreneur and philanthropist, who was interested in growing the project into something bigger than just an after-school computer club.

In June 2011 the first CoderDojo was launched in the National Software Centre in Cork where CoderDojo saw extreme success. The Cork Dojo saw people travelling from Dublin frequently to attend sessions. Owing to this popularity a Dublin Dojo was launched soon after in Google’s Montevetro building. The increasing success lead to 2 more Dojos being setup in Limerick and Kerry.

krankykitty

That's fantastic. Wish I was that age and could participate

Morag

It went well, despite some faffing around at the start, but they'd no used that venue before and were not expecting as many kids there were about 40 doing the html session and another 20 in the python session.

Both mine really enjoyed it, have been mucking about at home with what they have learned and are looking forward to going again.

If there are adults who want something like that for themselves I suggest you have at look at the hackerspaces around the country. http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/Ireland

They often run learn how to code sessions. The galway and dublin ones have hosted forums here on boards.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1376
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1399


And for adults and kids online lessons.


http://www.codecademy.com/#!/exercises/0

juan.kerr

Interesting, not so sure about the Belt Rating system though: http://coderdojo.com/about-us/belt-rankings/

Morag

I'm not sure how achievable they are but it's not something I or my kids would get hung up on. Then again given that those attending can end up writing apps and games for hand helds it maybe more likely then we think.

It's a brand new concept which is up and running and it's great that people are willing to run it for free and it's been stated

We are working on better ranking systems, this is just an early iteration.

http://e-business.ie/blog/coder-dojo-irelan/

A review written by a parent in cork who's gotten involved.

Sleepy

Brilliant idea... if this is still going in 4 years or so I'll have the little fella down for it!

gcgirl

Pretty good I've a 7& half yr old who loves every thing pc wise in a couple of yrs he would be able to do it

Shelli2

My OH has been ranting about this since he attended the TED conference in Trinty a while back, he's dying to get involved and can't wait until our little fella is old enough to attend.

RedXIV

........ can't believe it, been saying I should set up something like this for ages!

Would be a great resource though, would love to get my kids involved but have a few years yet!

Gyalist

It's a shame that it's only on Saturdays. My son would love to do it but he has sports commitments that take up his weekend.

bodhi.zephyr

krankykitty wrote: »

That's fantastic. Wish I was that age and could participate

There is free coding clubs for adults now, called Coder Dojang

https://twitter.com/#!/CoderDojang

Moonbeam

There is one in Maynooth now too -

Time:Every Thursday, 5-7pm from 29th March (except 12th April)
Location: Computer Science Software Lab 3 at NUI Maynooth (ground floor, Callan Building, North Campus, Kilcock Road, Maynooth)

bodhi.zephyr

Moonbeam wrote: »

There is one in Maynooth now too -

Time:Every Thursday, 5-7pm from 29th March (except 12th April)
Location: Computer Science Software Lab 3 at NUI Maynooth (ground floor, Callan Building, North Campus, Kilcock Road, Maynooth)

Is this for adults?

Orion

bodhi.zephyr wrote: »

Is this for adults?

No. Kids aged 8 to 18.

My kids went last week and loved it.

http://zen.coderdojo.com/dojo/50

Morag

There's one being set up in Blanch IT this month, will be running Saturday afternoons.
Will be moving my two to that session, as it will be a lot easier then getting the bus into town,