Code Club - after-school code club initiative goes live

http://www.codeclub.org.uk

by CodeClub • 14 years ago

77 24 14 years ago

codeclub.org.uk

Our mission is to inspire kids to learn how to code. Our plan is to create a nationwide network of volunteer-led after-school coding clubs for children aged 10-11.<p>We're asking interested programmers to teach for an hour a week at their local school using Scratch and lesson plans based on the Scratch curriculum. Lesson plans are currently being created and tested so interested programmers can sign up to hear when they are ready at www.codeclub.org.uk<p>You can follow our progress at www.codeclub.org.uk/blog and follow us on twitter @CodeClub

Jakegissing• 14 years ago

This looks great. I'm 19 now, but would have killed for something like this when I was at school.

jmedwards• 14 years ago

I wish I had the time to really help out and engage fully in the going-to-schools aspect, but I can't. However, if there is anything else you need help with, let me know!

Good luck

kristianc• 14 years ago

Best of luck - I've got a 12 year old brother who wants to learn to code, but probably needs quite a gentle introduction to it.

Strallus• 14 years ago

I have a nephew that wanted "to be a programmer".

Turns out he wanted to make games, and he thought that making games was a lot like playing them. :\

phn• 14 years ago

Have you introduced him to tools like game maker, construct, stencyl, etc. ? Maybe he can do some simple things and then learn some code...

TeMPOraL• 14 years ago

> Turns out he wanted to make games

Well, great for him! Many a programmer started this way. IMO it's one of the best motivation ever to start programming, and to actually learn stuff (you try to make a game, and suddenly maths and physics become interesting).

jefffoster• 14 years ago

There's no mention of the computing at school (http://computingatschool.org.uk/) group - is there any link up between the two?

hyper_linda5• 14 years ago

There is no link. Yet.

VIlonis• 14 years ago

I wish their scope wasn't limited to ages 10-11. Maybe in the future.

ckdarby2• 14 years ago

coderdojo.com has a much larger age scope by the way.

hyper_linda5• 14 years ago

We're doing lesson plans for ages 10-11 first. Then we'll move on to other age groups :)

ckdarby2• 14 years ago

For those who do not fall in this age group I'd recommend looking at http://coderdojo.com

tomgallard• 14 years ago

Great idea- I've signed up. The most challenging aspect is how to make these things accessible, enjoyable and educational all at the same time, while still doing some proper 'coding'

wyclif• 14 years ago

http://www.codeclub.org.uk/blog/

Blog is 502'ing...

IJD2• 14 years ago

I run the computer lab and teach technology classes at an elementary school in California. Are there any similar programs in the states?

In the last year especially, I have seen lots of technology education programs like this start up in the UK. Seeing them in the UK is still inspiring and pushes me to do more, but I wish there were programs like this in the states.

hyper_linda5• 14 years ago

You are most welcome to use all our lesson plans and projects to start up your own thing in the US.

IJD2• 14 years ago

Am I missing something, or are these lesson plans and projects not available on the web site?

ArmstrongRSBC• 14 years ago

This is targeted towards 10-12 year olds?

Sounds like exactly what I need to get over the beginners hump with programming.

hyper_linda5• 14 years ago

luxpir2• 14 years ago

Congrats, it looks great.

Any plans to remunerate teachers? How much of a time commitment would this be for a potential volunteer?

What corporate structure have you taken?

hyper_linda5• 14 years ago

Thank you. It shouldn't be any direct costs to teachers. The lessons might need to be supervised by a teacher, which would be an hour of their time once a week. As for volunteers, one hour once a week, plus travel, plus time to prepare (this will vary from person to person). We need to raise £5000 pounds before we can register as a charity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charitable_organization#Charity...

luxpir2• 14 years ago

Thanks for your reply. It sounds perfectly reasonable in terms of committment.

A further though is that if arts/crafts/sports-type workshop runners are charging around £200 a day for their work in schools, you could potentially tap into this portion of school budgets to earn the £5000 required or set up as a limited company with a social purpose. I suppose you've made plans on the costs front, and that fund raising for £5k a year is perhaps very manageable.

If not, you could set up on a UK-based Kickstarter-type site and I, for one, would be happy to contribute and potentially volunteer for our local school.

Code Club - after-school code club initiative goes live

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