Coder Dojo Galway
Written by Rob | 01.17.12
We have just returned from an inspiring first meeting of the CoderDojoGalway mentors comprising of local educators, parents, programmers, academics and community workers. We convened in the Computer Museum in the DERI building hosted by the curator Brendan Smith.
It was the perfect place to begin a journey for us that could claim a direct heritage to the days when Digital first came to Galway way back when. We were shown schematics of the original network between all the schools in Galway, linked via terminals and modems. Also on display was an Apple II, like those given to schools in Ireland back in 1982. It was on an AppleII in '82 that I first learned BASIC.
We discussed an outline that we intend to follow on our first dojo Feb 4th which will be largely a fact finding mission.
Armed with Scratch and Joomla, we have two systems that will allow students of different levels and needs, a common entry point. From here, it will be up to the student the direction they take and how far they want to take it. We have at least 4 scratch experts including Brendan, Steve and Michael and Sharon.
HTML and GIMP skills leading on to the PHP/advanced Joomla development using our own JiGS Games system will be available to the more advanced students as is appropriate. I will teach some of the mentors PHP and Joomla so even our non-techie mentors can have a go. We will also be looking at Minecraft and OpenSim, especially since James Corbert and the team at MissionV and our own team have been investigating a JiGS, Joomla, OpenSim, Kinect collaboration.
Lisa and I will also be travelling to the other Coder Dojos in Cork and Limerick (and elsewhere if invited) to make JiGS and Joomla available there too. Thanks to Adrian for organising the meeting, and of course James and Bill for starting the movement.
Ye rock.
Thanks again. Bring on our first session on the 4th