CoderDojo, for those unaware, is like a free Saturday computer club for children, set up by various groups (increasingly companies are setting up their own), with an aim of teaching children some form of computer language. The most popular is HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Recently I started helping out with the CoderDojo in DCU (website launching soon). It's just over a year old, and today was my second week.
I got involved because, a woman from work sent around an email, and it's close to my home. That, and three weeks ago they started another class particularly aimed at girls. So from 10am to noon, 30 or so 10-18 year old girls (and their parents/guardians) gather to learn how to write their own webpages. Then from noon until 2pm the mixed beginners class is run, and from 2pm to 4pm is the advanced class. There is a bit of a mix-up with the ticketing system that needs smoothing out (girls tickets, gen tickets), but other than that things seem to be going well.
Why start an all-girls class? After all the material isn't any different. They'd been running the mixed classes for a year, and had about four girls attending. The girls class started with about 35. Why? Perhaps it's about perception? No-one is particularly keen to do things if they feel they won't fit in. So if you tell them yes, this is for you, and there will be others like you, maybe they feel more encouraged to attend?
I help out with the two beginner classes, and after those four hours I'm a bit shattered, and keep missing out on the advanced class who do fun things like animation and node.js. Maybe once I get used to the routine I'll find the extra energy. It's inspiring to see the children getting excited over what they're doing. It's humbling to see the creativity just pour out of them so effortlessly. And it feels good to be able to help them when they get stuck. I'm looking forward to the coolest-project competition.
I got involved because, a woman from work sent around an email, and it's close to my home. That, and three weeks ago they started another class particularly aimed at girls. So from 10am to noon, 30 or so 10-18 year old girls (and their parents/guardians) gather to learn how to write their own webpages. Then from noon until 2pm the mixed beginners class is run, and from 2pm to 4pm is the advanced class. There is a bit of a mix-up with the ticketing system that needs smoothing out (girls tickets, gen tickets), but other than that things seem to be going well.
Why start an all-girls class? After all the material isn't any different. They'd been running the mixed classes for a year, and had about four girls attending. The girls class started with about 35. Why? Perhaps it's about perception? No-one is particularly keen to do things if they feel they won't fit in. So if you tell them yes, this is for you, and there will be others like you, maybe they feel more encouraged to attend?
I help out with the two beginner classes, and after those four hours I'm a bit shattered, and keep missing out on the advanced class who do fun things like animation and node.js. Maybe once I get used to the routine I'll find the extra energy. It's inspiring to see the children getting excited over what they're doing. It's humbling to see the creativity just pour out of them so effortlessly. And it feels good to be able to help them when they get stuck. I'm looking forward to the coolest-project competition.