An introduction to CoderDojo WA.

1. Karen Wellington, Program Manager (CoderDojo WA)
@karentton / @coderdojowa

3. What does an ideal
future look like?

4. Source: code.org (United States)

5. By 2020, the Australian
information technology
sector will be short
of 25,000 workers.
Source: The Australian
Information Industry Association

6. What skills are needed?

7. Source: Economist Intelligence Unit, 2015

8. How can we help young
people learn these skills?

10. CoderDojo is a world-wide open source social
education movement oriented around running free
computer coding clubs (“Dojos”) for young people
aged 7-17 (“Ninjas”).

11. Our mission is to get kids coding.
Our vision is for all young Western Australians
to be able to access opportunities that help
them get coding.
Our purpose is to make sure WA
has a bright future.

12. What exactly is a
“CoderDojo”
and how does it
make learning
to code fun?

13. What is a CoderDojo?

14. Basic Dojo terminology
NINJA: 7-17 year old participant
CHAMPION: Dojo organiser
MENTOR: Person who mentors ninjas

15. 3 basic traits of a CoderDojo
1. A CoderDojo or “Dojo” for short,
is a relaxed social environment
for budding coders: it’s a club
not a class
1. Mentors provide assistance
2. Free to attend: no cost, and club
is not compulsory

17. How the philosophies of the CoderDojo
movement work in a
community/educational setting
1. Multiple contact points
2. Unstructured time provided
3. Peer-to-peer learning encouraged
4. Ninjas encouraged to share their code
5. Environment of continuous
adaptation

19. What are the aims of a Dojo?
1. Get Ninjas coding
2. Encourage Ninjas to become self-
motivated learners
3. Get Ninjas working on projects
4. Get Ninjas helping each other

20. Types of learning interactions
THE PAST? THE DOJO MODEL
One teacher controls the
group
Champions / Mentors facilitate
the group
Teacher responsible for the
learnings of students
Ninjas are encouraged to
become responsible for their
own learning
Students are learning, teacher
is teaching.
Ninjas AND Mentors learn and
help each other.
Everyone is learning the
same thing at the same time
Everyone is free to learn and
work on what they like (code
related).

21. The
Dojo
model
The
past
Types of learning
interactions

22. How to be a great mentor

23. Tips for mentoring young people at a Dojo
1. Be authentic. Engage in genuine relationship building
(ask, listen and get to know the Ninjas)
2. Utilise the “grandmother method”
3. Share your passion / interest
4. Reconnect with what you find fun and interesting
5. Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know”
6. Work together to find solutions
7. Allow for space and free time
8. RELAX - Technology is “hacky” by nature. You don’t
need to be polished or perfect.
9. You are modelling curiosity and determination learning
behaviours rather than “teaching.”

24. CREATIVITY OFFICER
NINJA
NINJA
CHAMPION
CHAMPION
PARENT
MENTOR
MENTOR
MENTOR
MENTOR
MENTOR
PARENT
NINJA
NINJA
NINJA
NINJA
MENTOR
NINJA

26. A Dojo is
A club where young people aged
7-17 can make new friends and
get coding with help from
volunteer Mentors.
A Dojo is not
A structured classroom
setting where instructors
teach students.
The way of the Dojo
• Must be free to attend
• Ninjas attend by choice (Dojos should not be compulsory)
• Venues are donated / provided for free by host organisations
• Can be run by staff within organisations or by volunteers
• Mentors can be staff or volunteers

27. Ninjas
love
Dojos

28. “Finding new people with similar interests and hobbies”
“being able to make whatever we want out of code”
“Nerds Get together and code their hearts out and not feel
embarrased”
“Being able to have the freedom of making my own things”
“I liked how we could just use the session for whatever we
liked and were not confined to one activity”
“I liked how they just show you how to do it and bam you're
free to do what you want”
“I LIKE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO ALL BE DOING THE SAME
THING AND THAT WE GOT TO PLAY AROUND WITH THE
PROGRAMS AND NOT JUST COPYING OFF THE BOARD.”
What Ninjas like about attending a Dojo

29. Key benefits for Ninjas
1. They can develop problem solving
skills
2. They can develop responsibility
and initiative for their own
learning
3. They can develop social skills and
friendships

30. What is “open source”
and what has it got to
do with CoderDojo?

33. 3 basic traits of open source
1. Source code is freely available
for use and modification
2. Source code is typically created
collaboratively by a network of
coders, usually at no charge
3. Source code is free to use

34. CoderDojo is an open source
social education movement.
1. Concept is freely available for
use and modification
2. Coding clubs are collaboratively
organised
3. CoderDojo sessions are free to
attend

39. CoderDojo is an open
source network
organisation and
CoderDojo WA is a branch
of this network.

41. Getting young people coding
needs a network approach

42. What does this mean for you?
1. You can start and run a CoderDojo with no
permission needed
2. You can run sessions as you wish, for
varied purposes
3. You can join a worldwide network
4. You can contribute locally and make a
difference
5. You can encourage young people to lead

43. In a network, all participants can
develop relational leadership skills

44. What does CoderDojo WA do?
- Training for Champions and Mentors
- Supporting the University Dojos (not running them)
- Enabling partnerships within the community
- Running social, awards and presentation events
- Participating in STEM community events
- Promoting STEM/coding careers to young people

45. Training sessions for the community

46. Supporting the university Dojos

47. Running information sessions

48. Running an awards event

49. WA Dojo Locations
Supported University Locations
Curtin University, Edith Cowan Joondalup,
Edith Cowan Mt Lawley, Murdoch University,
UWA.
Independent Dojos
Dunsborough Primary School, All Saints
College, Bankwest, Mount Claremont PEAC,
Perth Modern, Shenton College, Singleton
Primary School, Yule Brook College and more
all the time.

50. How to start a Dojo?
1. Sign up via www.coderdojo.com
2. Source a venue
3. Set a date and time (minimum 4
sessions)
4. Decide who your Ninjas will be
5. Arrange mentors if possible
6. Promote the Dojo
7. Facilitate the Dojo sessions

51. As a leader in this network, you do not need
to ask me for permission to do anything! This
is your opportunity to craft an experience that
will change the lives of your Ninjas.
Keep us in the loop: @coderdojowa /
#coderdojowa
coderdojowa@fogartyfoundation.org.au

52. 7 suggested elements
of a Dojo session
1. Icebreakers
2. Inspiration
3. Hands-on activities
4. Challenges
5. Project ideas
6. Unstructured time
(ESSENTIAL)
7. Show me the code

54. How to plan content for Dojo sessions
1. Consider the age range / experience level
2. Ask Ninjas if they have been doing any coding yet
3. Encourage Ninjas to use online resources (Scratch
MIT, Codecademy, Lightbot, Crunchzilla, Khan
Academy, Mozilla Thimble) and so on
4. Together, look for inspiration – for projects that other
Ninjas / Dojos have worked on. Try and find
something that the group can work on together
5. Take advantage of external challenges: hackathons,
competitions etc
6. Bring in “inspiration” (guest speakers) etc
7. Don’t be too structured, allow for free time.

56. How to ensure engagement with diverse
groups of young people
1. Be aware of different “hooks”. Some Ninjas are
interested in the technology itself. Others are
motivated by the opportunity to create art, make a
game, tell a story, to be social or to solve a problem
2. Try not to focus on the students who are naturally
good at maths and science. Anyone can be a coder
3. You don’t need to be naturally “good at maths” to be
a coder. It’s about being determined
4. Help Ninjas search for their own code and technology
related “role models”

58. Karen Wellington, Program Manager (CoderDojo WA)
@karentton / @coderdojowa

59. FIN