Young people with South West College lecturer at the Coder Dojo event
AROUND 40 people gathered to hear from a range of industry professionals at the launch of a new gaming/computer club at the South West College.
The first of regular meetings of the club, took place on Saturday, and it is the first event of its kind to come to the county.
The organisation behind it, working in association with the college’s new IMAGE centre, is ‘CoderDojo’, a global charity aimed at children from the age of seven, to their mid-teens.
It focusses on teaching young people about coding, game design, animation – and other gaming and computing concepts.
“My mum got me my first computer at a young age and I think that shaped what I wanted to do later in life. Unfortunately back then there was nothing like CoderDojo for me to participate in. It’s fantastic that local children have a chance to learn about digital creativity at such an impressionable age,” explained Paul McGovern, a lecturer in digital media at the college.
“I have been working closely with Carol Viney (Deputy Head of Department Technology) to organise and co-ordinate the event. It has taken some effort and planning, but it paid off on Saturday,” he added.
Speakers at the event included Matthew Johnston from Digital Circle and William Barr from Billy Goat Entertainment.
The CoderDojo concept was introduced and everyone was made familiar with IMAGE, the creative technologies studio at the college.
Future sessions, which will take place on the first and third Saturday of each month, are to be sponsored by Tesco Enniskillen.
Paul concluded: “Everyone I spoke to was suitably impressed by both the potential of the event and the provision of equipment on hand. I will be heavily involved in the delivery although I will be supported by colleagues from the college.
“If anyone is interested in attending and missed the first session please feel free to attend any of the future sessions.”
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