A Dojo as many of you know is a Japanese word for a place to train in the ‘way’. The ‘way’ is synonymous with the training of the martial arts such as Karate, Judo, Aikido and even for the training of the famous Japanese ultra warriors, known as Samurai.
It is apt then that the Dojo is referenced in CoderDojo, which is also a place to train in the ‘way’, although this is the way of coding and it is creating today’s new technology Samurai, although I believe they prefer the title Ninja. Either way, you better look around there may be one sitting beside you as you read this blog. This is the clever core element of the CoderDojo movement throughout the world freedom of information. They are essentially freeing up the knowledge of coding and passing on the ‘way’ and bringing about the training of young and some not so young in the arts of the digital world.
CoderDojo was set up in Cork, Ireland in 2011 and has spread all over the globe since that date. It is a grassroots organisation which is volunteer led and sets up clubs in an effort to teach coding in a fun and social environment to young people. There are now in excess of 600 Dojos in over 60 countries, proof of the popularity of the idea. Its purpose is to provide ICT skills to young people of school age which will stand to them throughout their lives. With a skills shortage in ICT this makes perfect sense and can encourage a young mind to pursue a career in this area or even better become creative and design and devise their own response using code and technology to make the world a better place.
Enter the Dragon that is CoderDojo Coolest Projects. This is a showcase event in Dublin’s RDS for the disciples. It encourages young talented coders to compete for a project award, but probably more importantly to demonstrate apps, websites, games and the odd robot or two, that they have themselves developed. It is a great target for Dojo member to aim for and drives a new type of creativity, as past winners exemplify. The event focuses on the core skills which will be needed for tomorrow’s great creative digital innovators and entrepreneurs.
In 2015 the event moved to the RDS, a sign of its growing popularity with 500 entries from all over Europe and over 5000 visitors to the event. For 2016 the organisers are promising an even more dynamic production with a line up of world class speakers and state of the art tech, gaming and education companies in attendance. Fierce Fun Games and Development will be there, to chat to budding gamers and coders. We will also be presenting a great competition to attendees who think they they have the brains outwit the Bag Man, our resident Fierce Fun genius. We invite all comers to take the QuizTime Trivia TIME challenge if you have the guts. Find us on the event map and come over and say hello, you may win a bespoke designed game just for you and your friends or your company.
For more info: http://coolestprojects.org
Fierce Fun Booth at CoderDojo Coolest Project – http://4sq.com/1UQrnbA
(Merrion Road, Dublin, Dublin, DUBLIN 4, IE)