Here is the slide set from the session ran at Spacecubed on 24th June 2015.

1. Welcome to “How to Start and Run a Dojo”
Before the session starts, chat to others here:
1. What brought you here today?
2. What are you passionate about?
3. Are you learning or studying anything? Discuss

2. Karen Wellington, Program Manager (CoderDojo WA)
@karentton / @coderdojowa

3. Why?

4. What does an ideal
future look like to you?

5. Source: code.org (United States)

6. By 2020, the Australian
information technology
sector will be short
of 25,000 workers.
Source: The Australian
Information Industry Association

7. What skills are needed?

8. Source: Economist Intelligence Unit, 2015

9. How can we help young
people move towards these careers?

10. CoderDojo is a world-wide open source social
education movement oriented around running
free computer coding clubs (“Dojos”) for young
people aged 7-17 (“Ninjas”).

11. What exactly is a
“CoderDojo”
and how does it
make learning
to code fun?

12. What is a CoderDojo?

13. The people in a Dojo
Ninja
7-17 year old participant
Champion
Dojo organiser
Mentor
Person who mentors ninjas

14. The ingredients of a Dojo
Ninjas
1-3 Champions
A
room
Computers
Mentors

15. 3 basic traits of a CoderDojo
1. A CoderDojo or “Dojo” for short,
is a relaxed social environment for
budding coders: it’s a CLUB, not a
class
2. Mentors provide assistance
3. Free to attend: no cost, and club is
not compulsory

17. What’s special about a
CoderDojo coding club?
1. People get to know each other after
repeat sessions
2. Unstructured time gives Ninjas the space
they need
3. Peer-to-peer learning is encouraged
4. Ninjas are encouraged to share their code
5. Dojos are environments of continuous
adaptation

19. What are the aims of a Dojo?
1. Get Ninjas coding by choice
2. Encourage Ninjas to become self-
motivated learners
3. Get Ninjas working on projects
4. Get Ninjas helping each other

20. Types of learning interactions
THE PAST? THE DOJO MODEL
One teacher controls the
group
Champions / Mentors facilitate
the group
Teacher responsible for the
learnings of students
Ninjas are encouraged to
become responsible for their
own learning
Students are learning,
teacher is teaching.
Ninjas AND Mentors learn and
help each other.
All students are learning the
same thing at the same time
Everyone is free to learn and
work on what they like (code
related).

21. The
Dojo
model
The
past
Types of learning
interactions

22. NINJA
NINJA
CHAMPION
CHAMPION
PARENT
MENTOR
MENTOR
MENTOR
MENTOR
MENTOR
PARENT
NINJA
NINJA
NINJA
NINJA
MENTOR
NINJA
NINJA

24. What is mentoring?

25. Tips for mentoring young people at a Dojo
1. Be authentic. Engage in genuine relationship building
(ask, listen and get to know the Ninjas)
2. Utilise the “grandmother method”
3. Share your passion / interest
4. Reconnect with what you find fun and interesting
5. Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know”
6. Work together to find solutions
7. Allow for space and free time
8. RELAX - Technology is “hacky” by nature. You don’t need
to be polished or perfect.
9. You are modelling curiosity and determination learning
behaviours rather than “teaching.”

26. A Dojo is
A club where young people aged
7-17 can gather an work on their
coding projects.
A Dojo is not
A structured classroom
setting where instructors
teach students.
The way of the Dojo
• Must be free to attend
• Ninjas attend by choice (Dojos should not be compulsory)
• Venues are donated / provided for free by host
organisations
• Can be run by staff within organisations, or by volunteers
• Champions/Mentors can be staff or volunteers

27. Ninjas
love
Dojos

28. “Finding new people with similar interests and hobbies”
“being able to make whatever we want out of code”
“Nerds Get together and code their hearts out and not feel
embarrased”
“Being able to have the freedom of making my own things”
“I liked how we could just use the session for whatever we liked
and were not confined to one activity”
“I liked how they just show you how to do it and bam you're
free to do what you want”
“I LIKE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO ALL BE DOING THE SAME
THING AND THAT WE GOT TO PLAY AROUND WITH THE
PROGRAMS AND NOT JUST COPYING OFF THE BOARD.”
What Ninjas like about Dojos

29. How
to start
a Dojo

30. How to start a Dojo?
STEP 1 – Connect with the
CoderDojo community
1. Register as a Champion
2. Join the online CoderDojo WA community
on Yammer
3. Sign up to the CoderDojo WA mailing list
4. Connect on social media (links here)

31. How to start a Dojo?
STEP 2 – Plan your Dojo
1. Get a Working With Children Check
2. Find a venue
3. Set a date and time
4. Think about your Ninjas
5. Register your new Dojo
6. Promote
7. Think about Mentors

32. How to run a Dojo session?
1. Introduce the session, welcome Ninjas.
Remind them that this is a club, not a
class.
2. Introduce yourself and any Mentors or
special guests
3. Provide some inspiration or suggestions
4. Free time for coding. Use the Dojo menu
or other resources to
5. Show me the code

33. Using the “Dojo Menu” idea
A la carte, buffet or both….

34. 7 suggested elements
of a Dojo session
1. Introductions
2. Icebreakers
3. Inspiration
4. Hands-on activities
5. Project ideas / competitions
6. Free time (ESSENTIAL), using
the Dojo Menu
7. Show me the code

36. Tips for planning Dojo sessions
1. Consider the age range / experience level
2. Ask Ninjas if they have been doing any coding yet
3. Encourage Ninjas to use online resources (Scratch MIT,
Codecademy, Lightbot, Crunchzilla, Khan Academy, Mozilla
Thimble) and so on
4. Together, look for inspiration – for projects that other Ninjas /
Dojos have worked on. Try and find something that the group
can work on together
5. Take advantage of external challenges: hackathons,
competitions etc
6. Bring in “inspiration” (guest speakers) etc
7. Don’t be too structured, allow for free time.

38. How to ensure engagement with
diverse groups of young people
1. Be aware of different “hooks”. Some Ninjas are
interested in the technology itself. Others are
motivated by the opportunity to create art, make a
game, tell a story, to be social or to solve a problem
2. Try not to focus on the students who are naturally good
at maths and science. Anyone can be a coder
3. You don’t need to be naturally “good at maths” to be a
coder. It’s about being determined
4. Help Ninjas search for their own code and technology
related “role models”

40. Key benefits for Ninjas
1. They can develop problem solving
skills
2. They can develop responsibility
and initiative for their own
learning
3. They can develop social skills and
friendships

41. What is “open source”
and what has it got to
do with CoderDojo?

44. 3 basic traits of open source
1. Source code is freely available for
use and modification
2. Source code is typically created
collaboratively by a network of
coders, usually at no charge
3. Source code is free to use

45. CoderDojo is an open source social
education movement
1. Concept is freely available for use
and modification
2. Coding clubs are collaboratively
organised
3. CoderDojo sessions are free to
attend

50. CoderDojo is an open
source international
movement, and CoderDojo
WA is a members
association for anyone
running Dojos in WA.

51. OUR MISSION
To get kids coding
OUR VISION
Coding clubs right across WA
OUR PURPOSE
to make sure WA has a bright future

52. Getting young people coding
needs a network approach

54. What does this mean for you?
1. You can start and run a CoderDojo with no
permission needed
2. You can run sessions as you wish, for varied
purposes
3. You can join a worldwide network
4. You can contribute locally and make a
difference
5. You can encourage young people to lead

55. In a network, all participants can
develop relational leadership skills

56. As a leader in this network, you do not need to ask me
for permission to do anything! This is your opportunity
to craft an experience that will change the lives of
your Ninjas.
Keep us in the loop: @coderdojowa / #coderdojowa
coderdojowa@fogartyfoundation.org.au

57. What does CoderDojo WA do?
• Training for Champions and Mentors
• Supporting the University Dojos (not running them)
• Enabling partnerships within the community
• Running social, awards and presentation events
• Participating in STEM community events
• Promoting STEM/coding careers to young people

58. Training sessions

59. Supporting the university Dojos

60. Running information sessions

61. Running an awards event

62. WA Dojo Locations
Supported University Locations
Curtin University, Edith Cowan Joondalup, Edith
Cowan Mt Lawley, Murdoch University, UWA.
Independent Dojos
Dunsborough Primary School, All Saints College,
Bankwest, Mount Claremont PEAC, Perth
Modern, Shenton College, Singleton Primary
School, Yule Brook College and more all the
time.

63. Karen Wellington, CoderDojo WA Coordinator
@karentton / @coderdojowa
coderdojowa@fogartyfoundation.org.au

64. FIN