Africa Code Week and Coding in eThekwini Libraries

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'Mind blowing, fascinating, awesome!! Suggestions - do this every day!" Our library coding session, as part of @africa_code_week_2018 , was a success. Learners from Hunt Road Secondary visited their municipal library just a block away and we had a couple of hours of Scratch and blowing minds. The school has no computers - not one -but keen learners. Hopefully we can make a plan. . . Thanks so much to the Musgrave library librarian and staff for organisation and for inviting other cybercadet staff to see how they can take coding education back to their libraries. . Meanwhile back at one of our regular schools dedicated volunteers finished the translation of Scratch blocks to isiZulu. Still a lot to do but great that's complete! . #kidswhocode #africacodeweek #csforall #girlswhocode #scratchmit #scratchcoding #librariesrock #library #ethekwinimunicipality #glenwood031 #ethekwini #durban #southafrica

A post shared by CodeMakers 🇿🇦🚀 (@code.makers) on Oct 18, 2018 at 7:26am PDT

Pop-Up Exhibit at KZNSA Gallery - EXTENDED until October 28

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Brilliant turnout last night for our pop-up! Learners were over the moon, people laughed out loud when they gave their friend five and Super Mandela zapped away the badness #apartheidzap, the light boxes told stories, and the doors were pushed open after closing to figure out how that game controller works. . . Thanks so much to @kznsagallery @sumayyamenezes and @angelashawreview for giving us and the learns the opportunity and to @jess_nicholson_white for inspiration and advice on the show! . Visit the KZNSA until Oct 14th to see it . . #durbanfirstthursday #firstthursday #durbanart #kidswhocode #scratchcoding #computerscienceeducation #kznsa #kznsagallery #makeymakey #lightbox #character #sprite #studentart #learnerart #durbandraws

A post shared by CodeMakers 🇿🇦🚀 (@code.makers) on Oct 5, 2018 at 5:34am PDT

South African Tech Entrepreneurs at ITU in Durban #ituworld

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A few of the awesome South African tech innovators and entrepreneurs presenting at the ITU meeting in Durban that we've met. They are hoping to solve the problems of inneffficient health care data and decision making @youngmdza, payment options and stock control at spaza shops @thabomoodie, and collaborative software development @_engineone. The Ericsson booth that is showcasing ~40+ SA startups is by far the most dynamic thing happening at the conference. . . . . #ituinsa18 #ituericsson #itu #ituworld #southafricanstartups #southafricanentrepreneurs #southafricanentrepreneur

A post shared by CodeMakers 🇿🇦🚀 (@code.makers) on Sep 12, 2018 at 11:54pm PDT

Thank You Derivco!

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Learners poured their hearts out with thanks to @derivco for their Mandela Day visit. One of my favourite, "You inspired me to get into computer science and make something that people will love." True to our medium we made an animated card that we will share shortly. . . #derivco #mandeladay2018 #inspired

A post shared by CodeMakers 🇿🇦🚀 (@code.makers) on Aug 24, 2018 at 2:47am PDT

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Practicing what we preach, we brought Derivco's Mandela Day thank you card to life. Too many thanks for one cartoon brain to handle.

A post shared by CodeMakers 🇿🇦🚀 (@code.makers) on Aug 31, 2018 at 6:05am PDT

Phumulani Mkhize - An Inspired Teacher

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Firing student pots made from clay he dug from the river! One day down another four days of stoking the fire to go. Mr. Mkhize is an amazingly dedicated art teacher. He is organising a student art show next week to show off these and other art his students have made. . If you know of a kiln willing to donate firing time for future projects please let us know . . #artteacher #dedicatedteacher #pottery #southafricanteacher #catomanor #chesterville #southafricanpottery #durban #southafrica

A post shared by CodeMakers 🇿🇦🚀 (@code.makers) on Aug 21, 2018 at 5:09am PDT

BBC Microbit - A New Tool to Learn to Create

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"I am amazing!" without hesitation the answer to what we should have our first ever microbit display. The microbit and learners are! It is packed with sensors and is programable through a number platforms notably MakeCode, ScratchX, and Scratch3 when it comes out in 2019. We saw some awesome game controllers using it at the conference and can't wait to see how it will be incorporated by learners into clothes they want to make and other projects. We talk a lot about getting ideas from your mind into the computer and now this will help us get them back out again. . . #microbit #bbcmicrobit #physicalcomputing #scratchmit #scratch3 #makecode #csforall #codingeducation #scratchx

A post shared by CodeMakers 🇿🇦🚀 (@code.makers) on Aug 17, 2018 at 1:31am PDT

Scratch Conference 2019 in Africa!

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The Scratch Conference is coming to Africa in 2019! It was so great to share the stage with the others from Africa to announce that the 2019 conference will be in Morocco and Kenya. Can't wait and very excited for the educators and learners that will get to learn the wonders of creative computing. . . #scratchmit2018 #scratchmit2019 #scratchconference2018 #codingeducation #steameducation #scratchmit #csforall #cs4all

A post shared by CodeMakers 🇿🇦🚀 (@code.makers) on Aug 15, 2018 at 1:27am PDT

Nelson Mandela Tribute

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A heartfelt tribute to Tata Madiba by Nompilo a grade 8 learner from Mayville who is new to Scratch coding. She spent hours getting her project just right and messaged us the music that she thought would make it shine. Fabulous job Nompilo! . #nelsonmandela #mandeladay #mandelalegacy #mandeladay2018 #mandela100 #scratchcoding #codingeducation #steameducation #mayville #durban #csforall

A post shared by CodeMakers 🇿🇦🚀 (@code.makers) on Jul 20, 2018 at 5:00am PDT

Amazing Mandela Day at Derivco!

Fabulous inspiring speakers on Mandela Day at @derivco. Five employees spoke about their careers as computer scientists, animators, innovators, managers and executives while making it all very personable and practical. Don't drop maths! -among others. . Terrence Hadebe's talk (top) was learners' favourite. He had a very difficult upbringing with jobs ranging from scrap metal picker to industrial clothes maker until he ended up as a car guard at Derivco. He thought if this company is as big as it is there must be space for me, and he asked an employee what qualifications he needed to get a job with them. He then studied IT, pouring odd job money into his studies, and after two failed attempts passed his exams that would qualify him for a job with Derivco. He is now a software quality analyst and an awesome pubic speaker. His talk filled with perserverance and humor really resonated with students. . . #derivco #inspiring #codingcareers #computerscienceeducation #csforall #cs4all #corporatesocialinvestment #csi #investinyouth #mandeladay2018 #mandeladay

A post shared by CodeMakers 🇿🇦🚀 (@code.makers) on Jul 19, 2018 at 1:17pm PDT

Honouring Mandela Through Animations and Video Games

A super Madiba to celebrate his 100th birthday. Well done Thando with the video game! If only these issues were that easy. More projects celebrating Mandela that we showed at our visit to @Derivco to come. . . #mandeladay #mandelalegacy #mandela100 #mandela100years #mandeladay2018 #videogame #scratchcoding #codingeducation #csforall #steameducation #scratchers #chesterville #durban #southafrica

A post shared by CodeMakers 🇿🇦🚀 (@code.makers) on Jul 18, 2018 at 8:19am PDT

Mandela Day visit to Derivco!

Mandela Day visit to @Derivco described by learners: dope, indescribable, super awesome, fantastic and educational. Can't ask for much more! Huge thanks for all of the behind the scenes arrangements, inspiring speakers, talk from the CEO, demos, and tour. Learners will remember this for years to come . . #mandeladay2018 #mandeladay #mandelalegacy #derivco #corporatesocialinvestment #csi #durban #southafrica #inspired

A post shared by CodeMakers 🇿🇦🚀 (@code.makers) on Jul 18, 2018 at 6:31am PDT

Going on an outing

Invites for our learners to visit @derivco offices tomorrow on Mandela Day tomorrow. Derivco employees have really embraced the work that we do, pouring in time, effort and passion. Thank you! . #mandeladay #mandeladay2018 #madiba #nelsonmandela #derivco #investinyouth #mandela100years

A post shared by CodeMakers 🇿🇦🚀 (@code.makers) on Jul 17, 2018 at 4:33am PDT