| 1. |
Africa Code Week is a continent-wide initiative to promote coding (computer programming) to youth using freely available software. |
| 2. |
The Cape Town Science Centre is hosting the Africa Code Week pilot event funded by an international software company and implemented by Simplon and Galway Education Centre. |
| 3. |
The Africa Code Week pilot event has been offered specifically to the Western Cape with free "Train the Trainer" sessions for teachers and free coding workshops for learners aged 8 to 11. |
| 3.1 |
The free "Train the Trainer" workshops for teachers will address the following:
- Why coding/computer programming for young learners?
- How to teach coding/computer programming using SCRATCH (free software).
- How to organise a coding/computer programming workshop for learners aged 8 to 11 years old.
- How to organise workshops for learners during the actual Africa Code Week from 01 to 10 October 2015.
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| 3.2 |
The free learner workshops (for ages 8 to 11) are aimed at creating an awareness of coding/computer programming and fostering an interest in 21st century learning skills beyond the classroom, promoting:
- Literacy;
- Mathematics;
- Problem solving skills;
- Computer literacy skills; and
- Procedural literacy, i.e. thinking about processes in the world.
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| 4. |
Africa Code Week is a new initiative and the implementers are encouraging Western Cape learners and teachers to be among the first to engage in this continent-wide historical initiative by registering to take part in the free pilot event activities. Participating teachers and learners will be given free resources, refreshments and a Certificate of Attendance. |
| 5. |
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) encourages schools to register and participate in the Africa Code Week pilot event in 2015. |
| 6. |
The WCED requests that schools take note of the relevant dates for this pilot event:
- 30 or 31 May 2015 (Saturday or Sunday) - teachers can attend a morning or afternoon session of no more than 3 hours on either one of these days.
- 01 to 05 June 2015 - learner workshops will take place at the Cape Town Science Centre. Schools can however request to have these hour-long workshops at their schools to fit in with learner/school schedules.
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| 7. |
All communications will be via email, SMS and/or telephone and must be directed to the Cape Town Science Centre. Teachers must indicate their preferred mode of communication when registering. |
| 8. |
For further enquiries or to register please contact the Cape Town Science Centre telephonically, by fax or visit their website:
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| 9. |
Principals are requested to bring this minute to the attention of all Grade 3 to 5 teachers. |
SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT
DATE: 2015:05:21
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