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Where the only rule is 'be cool' | Where the only rule is 'be cool' |
(about 13 hours later) | |
How did coding get so cool? | How did coding get so cool? |
Let's be honest, it wasn't always that way. Being able to speak to computers in their own language wasn't the best way to impress at parties. | Let's be honest, it wasn't always that way. Being able to speak to computers in their own language wasn't the best way to impress at parties. |
But in a world of digital billionaires it has become a deeply fashionable skill. It turns out that it's the geek who is going to inherit the earth. | But in a world of digital billionaires it has become a deeply fashionable skill. It turns out that it's the geek who is going to inherit the earth. |
And one of the fast-growing coding clubs has been CoderDojo. | And one of the fast-growing coding clubs has been CoderDojo. |
It's a not-for-profit organisation running coding clubs for young people in 38 countries, with the founding principle that the only rule is: "Be cool." | It's a not-for-profit organisation running coding clubs for young people in 38 countries, with the founding principle that the only rule is: "Be cool." |
It is established across Europe and North America, with a few clubs scattered across Asia and South America. Discussions with the US state department could see support for the clubs spreading further into Africa. | It is established across Europe and North America, with a few clubs scattered across Asia and South America. Discussions with the US state department could see support for the clubs spreading further into Africa. |
Temple of learning | Temple of learning |
The clubs are run by volunteers, teaching young people how to write code, build websites and make apps. The club's start-up supporters have an almost evangelical enthusiasm for these self-taught, unstructured, unbossy events. | The clubs are run by volunteers, teaching young people how to write code, build websites and make apps. The club's start-up supporters have an almost evangelical enthusiasm for these self-taught, unstructured, unbossy events. |
The "dojo" is borrowed from Japanese martial arts, as the temple of learning. It taps into a culture where students are expected to pass on what they have learned to others, with the learners becoming mentors. | The "dojo" is borrowed from Japanese martial arts, as the temple of learning. It taps into a culture where students are expected to pass on what they have learned to others, with the learners becoming mentors. |
Behind the CoderDojo project is Bill Liao, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who grew up in Australia and now lives in West Cork in Ireland. | Behind the CoderDojo project is Bill Liao, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who grew up in Australia and now lives in West Cork in Ireland. |
Coding is at the heart of the digital world, he says. If you want to understand this world then you need to understand its language. | Coding is at the heart of the digital world, he says. If you want to understand this world then you need to understand its language. |
"Coding is a language skill. | "Coding is a language skill. |
"The best coders I know are poets. They have creativity and economy of expression. You see great code and it is elegant in its simplicity and rich in meaning." | "The best coders I know are poets. They have creativity and economy of expression. You see great code and it is elegant in its simplicity and rich in meaning." |
We don't always recognise the beauty of well-made technology, he says, even when it is right in front of us. | We don't always recognise the beauty of well-made technology, he says, even when it is right in front of us. |
"We marvel at a two year old tapping at an iPad using a computer. We should really be marvelling at an Apple engineer who can make a computer that a two year old can use." | "We marvel at a two year old tapping at an iPad using a computer. We should really be marvelling at an Apple engineer who can make a computer that a two year old can use." |
Another reason for the upsurge in interest in coding is that it is going to help young people in a tough jobs market. | Another reason for the upsurge in interest in coding is that it is going to help young people in a tough jobs market. |
"Name a field of endeavour where understanding code wouldn't benefit your career choice," says Mr Liao. | "Name a field of endeavour where understanding code wouldn't benefit your career choice," says Mr Liao. |
Code father | Code father |
Setting up the CoderDojo clubs, he says surprised him by how much children wanted to learn. | Setting up the CoderDojo clubs, he says surprised him by how much children wanted to learn. |
And he was pleasantly surprised by how generous people can be in donating their time and premises. | And he was pleasantly surprised by how generous people can be in donating their time and premises. |
As an example of how it works on the ground, Rob Curran is a local CoderDojo "champion" in Wilmslow, Cheshire. | As an example of how it works on the ground, Rob Curran is a local CoderDojo "champion" in Wilmslow, Cheshire. |
Mr Curran came across the project when he brought his own son to a dojo and was so impressed that he now helps run a monthly session which attracts between 30 and 90 youngsters. | Mr Curran came across the project when he brought his own son to a dojo and was so impressed that he now helps run a monthly session which attracts between 30 and 90 youngsters. |
They learn how to use coding programmes such as Scratch, or use the simple Raspberry Pi computer or experiment with computer game such as Minecraft. | They learn how to use coding programmes such as Scratch, or use the simple Raspberry Pi computer or experiment with computer game such as Minecraft. |
What is the appeal for youngsters? It gives them hours of uninterrupted computer time and importantly, he says: "It is not school." | What is the appeal for youngsters? It gives them hours of uninterrupted computer time and importantly, he says: "It is not school." |
But the rise of computer clubs doesn't mean that the economy is suddenly awash with youngsters with the right skills. | But the rise of computer clubs doesn't mean that the economy is suddenly awash with youngsters with the right skills. |
Mr Liao's day job is as a venture capitalist and he says there are too many bright ideas looking for investors which are held back by a lack of coders. | Mr Liao's day job is as a venture capitalist and he says there are too many bright ideas looking for investors which are held back by a lack of coders. |
"The entire world is run on code and we have run out of coders," he says. | "The entire world is run on code and we have run out of coders," he says. |
As an entrepreneur, he says he wants to create an environment where youngsters can try to learn these skills and not worry about failure. | As an entrepreneur, he says he wants to create an environment where youngsters can try to learn these skills and not worry about failure. |
When they succeed there is instant playground credibility. | When they succeed there is instant playground credibility. |
A 12 year old attending a CoderDojo club in Cork made a games app that was accepted for Apple's App Store, he says. He was so young his mother had to register the account for him. | A 12 year old attending a CoderDojo club in Cork made a games app that was accepted for Apple's App Store, he says. He was so young his mother had to register the account for him. |
Being able to show friends your own app on an iPhone is "achingly cool", he says. | Being able to show friends your own app on an iPhone is "achingly cool", he says. |
'Hated school' | 'Hated school' |
While the parents might be thinking about the cash advantages of a junior Bill Gates in the family, Mr Liao says such coding clubs have got to be sociable, reassuring and spontaneous places. | While the parents might be thinking about the cash advantages of a junior Bill Gates in the family, Mr Liao says such coding clubs have got to be sociable, reassuring and spontaneous places. |
What he wants to avoid is the sense of isolation he felt as a child, teaching himself to use a computer in his bedroom in the suburbs of Melbourne. | What he wants to avoid is the sense of isolation he felt as a child, teaching himself to use a computer in his bedroom in the suburbs of Melbourne. |
"I hated school. Mostly because I was racially vilified as a half-Chinese kid. It was pretty horrible." | "I hated school. Mostly because I was racially vilified as a half-Chinese kid. It was pretty horrible." |
But learning to use a computer was his escape from loneliness and bullying. | But learning to use a computer was his escape from loneliness and bullying. |
"It gave me access to something that has been incredibly powerful throughout my life." | "It gave me access to something that has been incredibly powerful throughout my life." |
And he says he has great empathy for the lonely child learning alone, wanting them to feel safe in the CoderDojo set up. | And he says he has great empathy for the lonely child learning alone, wanting them to feel safe in the CoderDojo set up. |
"Learning is a social activity. You learn more when you're doing it together." | "Learning is a social activity. You learn more when you're doing it together." |
And as the CoderDojo website puts it: "Bullying, lying, wasting people's time and so on is uncool." | And as the CoderDojo website puts it: "Bullying, lying, wasting people's time and so on is uncool." |
He is also an advocate of the principle of working many years to become an overnight success. He describes his years refining the CoderDojo idea, with co-founder James Whelton, as his "Beatles in Hamburg years". | He is also an advocate of the principle of working many years to become an overnight success. He describes his years refining the CoderDojo idea, with co-founder James Whelton, as his "Beatles in Hamburg years". |
It isn't just CoderDojo that is surfing the coding wave. There are many other organisations bringing the coding message to young people, such as Code Club and Code Academy. | It isn't just CoderDojo that is surfing the coding wave. There are many other organisations bringing the coding message to young people, such as Code Club and Code Academy. |
In the UK, this is the Year of Code, with the aim of encouraging more people to try to learn the language. | In the UK, this is the Year of Code, with the aim of encouraging more people to try to learn the language. |
In the US and the UK there are "hour of code" projects for quick-fire lessons, supported by tech giants such as Microsoft and Google. | In the US and the UK there are "hour of code" projects for quick-fire lessons, supported by tech giants such as Microsoft and Google. |
The BBC's School Report project has also gathered resources and materials about learning to code. | |
And even though CoderDojo clubs are spreading around the world, Mr Liao won't be rushing to see them all. | And even though CoderDojo clubs are spreading around the world, Mr Liao won't be rushing to see them all. |
Not because of lack of interest, but because he has given up air-travel as part of an environmental, tree-planting project. | Not because of lack of interest, but because he has given up air-travel as part of an environmental, tree-planting project. |
But the idea he wants to plant in all these clubs is to encourage creativity without a fear of failure. | But the idea he wants to plant in all these clubs is to encourage creativity without a fear of failure. |
"It's not just free, it's free thinking. It's not closed and institutional," he says. | "It's not just free, it's free thinking. It's not closed and institutional," he says. |
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