WOW! GREAT TEACHERS ARE CODERS, GREATER TEACHERS ARE SCRATCHERS

WOW! GREAT TEACHERS ARE CODERS, GREATER TEACHERS ARE SCRATCHERS

Train the Trainer Coding Workshop in preparation for Africa Code Week

 "1,2,3 We are Scratchers" like small kids, they shouted with excitement. These teachers attended the Train the Trainer Workshop organised by Mpumalanga ICT Club on the 25 August 2017 at Vodacom ICT Club in eMalahleni.

"Wow! Great teachers are Coders, Greater teachers are Scratchers" tweeted Ms Nomusa Keninda - the Mpumalanga ICT Club Founder and the Facilitator of the Coding workshops in Mpumalanga.

Coding is a basic computer science programming. This time they were using Scratch language to code and teachers loved it. The workshop was in preparation for Africa Code Week.
Arguably, Africa Code Week is the first initiative of its kind, targeting more than 500,000 young Africans aged 8 to 24 across 35 countries into Coding on the 18-25 October 2017.

Its simple ... Coding is a new language, every child deserves to be fluent. "I am excited to host these fantastic workshops for teachers for free" smiled Keninda. My greatest and significant goal is to involve everybody, young and old. Mpumalanga must buzz with coding during the Africa Code Week and your support is welcomed. My million ZAR goes to Ms. Julie Cleverdon from Cape Town Science Centre for supporting the workshop. Thank you.

Ms. Mathandi Mokumo(front), Mbali Ngubeni(middle) and Nomzamo Makhotha

The club has also trained two Grade 10 girls from Patriot High School as Pro – Scratchers: Nomzamo Makhotha and Mbali Ngubeni. 

Teachers are therefore invited to embrace this opportunity and host Coding events in their schools as requested during the training workshop. More workshops in the month of September are being planned, lookout for adverts on the Mpumalanga ICT Club facebook page.

Every learner must learn to CODE

Every learner must learn to Code

Maloma Primary School excitely hosted the Microsoft YouthSpark for the first time. The event was organised by Mpumalangala ICT Club in partnership with SchoolnetSA and Microsoft. The 23rd June 2017 would be remembered by 30 learners of Maloma Primary School when they leave the school to choose various careers in IT in few years to come.

At first these learners couldn’t expressed their excitement until they hit few buttons on their laptops to start Coding. "We saw real time collaboration, communication and team spirit coming alive during the coding session" said the Principal. Coding is the Basic Computer Science Programming that every learner must learn. With this basic skill in IT, kids will look forward to choose IT, Science and Mathematics subjects towards their careers choices.

During the event, Miss Keninda switched on to the live broadcast of the YouthSpark hosted by Microsoft in Johannesburg for learners to interact with the panel that was discussing various careers in IT through Skype in the Classroom. "Every learner must be given an opportunity to learn coding,  that is what I am doing these days" said Ms Keninda - Coding Facilitator. "In April 2017 I trained 40 teachers in eMalahleni to teach their learners to code, I am excited that Maloma Primary School took this skill very serious.

During the YouthSpark Live, learners were introduced to IT experts in the country. Ms Rapelang Rabana was one of them. She is a computer scientist, entrepreneur and a founder of Rekindle Learning. She did not have a plan at the age of 16, but Rapelang has gone on to bigger and bigger things in IT industry.

We Code,

TEACHERS CAN CODE TOO..

TEACHERS CAN CODE TOO...

Coding is a language everybody can learn irrespective of age, gender or economic status. Everybody can Code. Emalahleni teachers used their first day of school holidays on the 3 April 2017 just to learn coding at 11 Corridor Crescent MST Academy Training Centre, N4 Route Business Park, eMalahleni.

 "We didn't expect such a number of teachers because of school holidays, we were humbled by the interest showed by these teachers" said Ms Nomusa Keninda, Hour of Code Facilitator. Coding is a basic computer science course and teachers can teach their children. It will motivate learners to take science, mathematics and technology subjects. With coding, teachers can draw the strength of every learner in the classroom. Teachers will be able to discover hidden skills and talents from learners such as problem solving, research or collaboration.

"It is a very interesting course, I love coding" said Ms. Gqamile Sukazi, teacher from Kopanang Secondary School who first reached level 14 within the allocated hour of Code. Last year 30 girls from Sbukosethu Primary Schools participated in the Global Online event of the Hour of Code and really did their best.

 Mrs Megan Rademeyer , from SchoolnetSA shared online resources with teachers during the workshop. "Teachers who use ICTs in the classroom have lots of benefits " she said. They can become Microsoft Innovator Expert Educators and travel around the globe showcasing their ICT integration skills with other teachers.

 With this training, we expect teachers to establish Coding Clubs. These clubs will then participate in the Global Online Event on the 1st - 7th December 2017. More workshops will be held in different schools around Emalahleni, to take the kids on board. Compiled by Nomusa Keninda, e-Learning Specialist for the Mpumalanga Department of Education, Nkangala District and a Founder of Mpumalanga ICT Club.

Hour of Code Workshop for teachers

We Code, We Solve, We Collaborate and We are Creative

We Code, We Solve, 

We Collaborate and We are Creative #HourofCode.

It didn’t rain as predicted on the 1st December 2016 paving a favourable weather condition for an uninterrupted Hour of Code event at Anglo American ICT Resource Centre, Landau.

We started with a full bang… when 50 children arrived at the centre to start their first journey of Basic Computer Science through participating in Coding. “Its nice to be here, … kumnandi ukuba la” recited Sibukosethu Primary School learners showing their state of readiness to code.

The Hour of Code is a global event where children are taught the basics of Computer Science through Coding around the world. Countries choose a week in December to participate in the Hour of Code. In South Africa, we chose the 1st to 9th December where more than 50 schools showed interest and participated in the Hour of Code. Mpumalanga ICT Club couldn’t miss the opportunity to involve schools in eMalahleni. We had learners from Sibukosethu Primary, Landau Primary and individual learners from Patriot High, Curro Bankenveld and Christian Academy.

“I observed the level of creativity, problem solving and collaboration skills among the learners, it was exciting to see such rare skills coming out easy from these children as they code from one level to another” said Mr. Jabu Mashia, one of the facilitator at the centre. Coding is for everyone, young and old. Among the children Kutlwano Legodi was the youngest girl in the Coding Class from Christian Academy, age 5 and in grade R.

We are hoping that these learners will grow the skill of Coding to assist them to choose STEM (science, Technology & Mathematics) careers in future. We are planning to involve all schools in Mpumalanga next year with help organisations who are willing to support this initiative. Emalahleni will buzz and trend #HourofCode next December.

Written by Nomusa Keninda- Mpumalanga ICT Club Founder, Managing and Leading Education with Digital Technology Student at University of Johannesburg and an Online Journalism Graduate from Wits.

She Can Code starts soon

Coding is an essential skills for everyone but Mpumalanga ICT CLUB will soon be starting a coding club called She Can Code targeting girls between the ages of 10-18.

We intend to stimulate young girls interest in IT and to get first basic IT skills.  These girls will learn and acquire 21st century skills such as creativity, problem solving,  systematic thinking and collaboration. 

We encourage parents to think about their girls future and register them. This course  is free of charge but the club will welcome any donation to make sure that girls get some refreshments during the course.

For more information contact
nomusakenindan@gmail.com