coding
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Newbridge Coderdojo Club
There is a new coderdojo club starting in Newbridge in St Conleth’s Community College. Children aged 7-17 can learn to build code using ‘Scratch’. Coderdojo is for anybody willing to learn and be creative. If interested contact Karl or Brendan at coderdojonewbridge@gmail.com. Twitter: @stconlethsdojo
What is coderdojo?
CoderDojo is a global network of free, volunteer-led, independent, community based programming clubs for young people. The CoderDojo Foundation is a registered charity in the Republic of Ireland. Find out more here.
Coding Event
On Wednesday 10th December Scoil Mhuire Sóisearach in Newbridge will be hosting a ‘coding event’. This is as part of the international ‘Hour of Code’ week taking place from 8th – 12th December in schools around the globe. It is the largest learning campaign in history. The organisers of the week are aiming for 100 million people to do an hour of code by the end of 2014. More information can be found at code.org
Coding is what makes it possible for us to create computer software, apps and websites. Writing code helps children’s learning because it helps to nurture creativity and problem solving skills as well as prepare children for future jobs (some of which might not even exist yet!).
During the day, children from the various classes will come to the hall to try out different activities to help build the skills required for writing code. Even our youngest children can begin to learn to code with simple activities such as programming floor robots and simple online activities. The school’s principal Bryan O’Reilly is also going to give it a go and will try his first hour of code!
Parents can help in the following ways:
- Are you available to help on the day? We need parents to assist the children with the simple online activities. No expertise required!
- Have you a laptop that you could lend us for the day? We need as many laptops as possible in order to give as many children as possible a go!
- You can also have a look at some of the activities and videos on code.org with your child at home.
Please contact bairbre.elwood@scmj.ie if you can help in any way.
Programmable Robot Travels Around the Town!
We helped ‘Dizzy Tron’ to travel around the town today. We chose buildings for him to visit and then told him how to get there.
Dizzy Tron is a programmable robot and the children have to give him instructions on how to move. This helps develop early coding and programming skills. The children also learned all about the places in the town. We’ll post some videos soon!