GMIT to host online coding activities as part of nationwide DojoMór2020

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 Press Office
Press Release

Fun and free programming activities for children taking place online (Sat 24 Oct)

GMIT is delighted to be a partner in hosting DojoMór2020, an exciting and fun online coding event for young people aged 7 to 17, where in one day (Saturday 24 October 2020), right across Ireland, they learn to create a simple game, build a website, and programme some electronics. This a free event; interested participants can register for one or more workshops at www.dojomor.ie

DojoMór2020 will involve multiple local classroom workshops being streamed live to attendees from around the country from staff in colleges such as GMIT, CIT,  IT Tralee, Waterford IT, Maynooth University, Dundalk IT, Letterkenny IT, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology, as well as from Offaly County Council. The event is funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

Dr Seán Duignan, Head of Department of Computer Science & Applied Physics at GMIT, says the nationwide event will give children and teenagers the opportunity to experience programming first-hand, and in a fun and creative way.  “We hope that this event will help guide a new generation of learners and will help them on their journey to becoming confident problem solvers. Regardless of college or career choice later on, computational thinking is a key literacy that all should endeavour to learn.  DojoMór2020 will help kick-start that journey for thousands of children. Curiosity is all that is required for this event; no experience of coding or computers necessary!”

Organisers expect some 10,000 young people, aged 7 to 17, from around Ireland to join the locally hosted live online sessions. DojoMór2020 will present young people with opportunities to learn practical and valuable skills, some of which they will develop into an exciting career in coding and programming anything from self-driving cars and state-of-the art aeronautics to machine-learning robotics and software application development. The career options are abundant. 

The online workshops will take place at 10am, 11am, 12pm and 1pm. Leading technologies will be used including Micro:bits, Vex Robotics, Scratch, Thunkable, HTML, Lightbot, Blender and Soundtrap. Children can learn to create a simple game, build a website, programme electronics , create music and develop 3D models using computer coding techniques.

To book workshops please register at www.dojomor.ie
For more details follow @dojomor2020 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

For further information about programmes in the Dept of Computer Services & Applied Physics, see: https://www.gmit.ie/computer-science-and-applied-physics/department-computer-science-applied-physics

ENDS

Issued by Regina Daly, GMIT Communications & Press Officer, GMIT, Dublin Road, Galway.
0879618355 (m) regina.daly@gmit.ie   www.gmit.ie/news
 

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