CoderDojo ninjas and mentors at Johnson & Johnson in Limerick. The ninjas also visited Dell Computers and in both companies saw how the skills they are learning are applied in the workplace.

CoderDojo at Nenagh Arts Centre

The CoderDojo movement believes that an understanding of programming languages is increasingly important in the modern world, that it’s both better and easier to learn these skills early, and that nobody should be denied the opportunity to do so.

CoderDojo is a worldwide movement of free, volunteer-led, community-based programming clubs for young people. It began in 2011 when James Whelton, an 18-year old coder in Cork, set up a computer club in his school where he started teaching students basic HTML and CSS. Later that year he met Bill Liao, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, who was interested in growing the project. Together the pair founded CoderDojo, which grew rapidly with thousands of dedicated Champions and Mentors setting up Dojos in 63 countries across the world.

 

Anyone aged 7 to 17 can visit a Dojo where they can learn to code, build a website, create an app or a game, and explore technology in an informal, creative and social environment where mentors guide and help them without prescribing a particular way of doing things. Within the CoderDojo movement there is a focus on peer learning, youth mentoring and self-led learning. Along with working on individual projects, collaborative activities involving critical thinking and problem-solving make communication between ninjas as important a part of a Dojo as the programming languages themselves.

 

CoderDojo Nenagh was set up by Champion Pamela O’Brien, Maths and Computer Science lecturer in Limerick Institute of Technology. Pam has been a CoderDojo mentor for more than five years in both the Nenagh and Limerick Dojos. Over that time she has seen the joy that comes from students learning how to create their own games and applications as opposed to just playing with those created by others. Pam believes that this knowledge of programming concepts is an important part of the world we live in today and will help those students to make informed decisions about college choices and possible future careers. 

 

Mentor James Gleeson first brought his son Donnacha along when he was about 6 (almost five years ago), but he was too young then to grasp the ideas of coding. They came back again about a year and a half later when it clicked for him straight away and they have been regulars ever since.

 

James is the Professor of Industrial and Applied Mathematics at the University of Limerick, and in his day job he sees the importance of students being able to code and understand programming concepts. In his research, mathematics is applied to help understand aspects of real-world problems and programming is used every day to help solve the equations. James sees CoderDojo as a great way to introduce children to important ideas and to have fun at the same time.

 

When Pam put out a call for mentors to help out in 2015, Eithne Darcy, a local primary school teacher, joined the team that facilitates at the club each month. Having studied programming previously at university, Eithne was always interested in integrating technology in her classroom and completed courses on IT tools designed for primary school children. She had already begun introducing her students to coding and other IT skills and so jumped at the chance to volunteer at CoderDojo Nenagh. After being involved for almost two years, the development of both technical and social skills displayed by the ninjas have made her a firm supporter of the movement.

 

CoderDojo Nenagh is part of the CoderDojo Midwest group which includes Dojos in Limerick and Ennis. It takes place on the first Wednesday of each month in Nenagh Arts Centre throughout the school year (September – June).

 

The session starts at 5.45pm and it is free of charge to attend. Children need to bring a laptop and if they are 12 years of age or under must be accompanied by a parent for the session. All the necessary programmes are provided, along with a quick tour of the basics, and after that it is curiosity and creativity that lead the way!

 

If you would like to join us, email coderdojonenagh@gmail.com or come along to the next session.