The Digital Xtra Fund is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) that supports the delivery of extra-curricular computing and digital activities to young people, aged 16 and under, across Scotland. It specifically seeks to improve participation of girls and underrepresented groups in digital, dispel negative perceptions about computing science and promote digital as an attractive career path.
The Digital Xtra Fund have awarded further funding to an additional 11 sustainable digital initiatives and we are delighted to receive funding support to take their established Digital Xtra Coding Club project into a further three Renfrewshire Secondary schools. The project focused on setting up coding clubs, aimed at engaging S1/2 pupils in the use of the BBC Micro:Bit amongst other digital programmes and encouraging them to become more involved in coding.
The clubs were launched successfully in three Renfrewshire Secondary Schools in 2017; Paisley Grammar School, St Benedicts High School and Renfrew High School. All of the clubs have been well attended and have seen some great activities taking place including a final GameJam event at the Paisley Campus where all schools attended.
We will utilise the funding to launch three new coding clubs in 2018. The clubs are set to launch in January in Renfrewshire secondaries schools St Andrews Academy, Gryffe High and Gleniffer High.
At the forefront championing this project are WCS Curriculum Quality Leader, David Renton and WCS Computing Lecturer Amanda Ford, who have lead the way in digital education, working with the HNC & HND Computing students and preparing first class lesson plans to support them in running the sessions. By providing a stimulating introduction to coding David and Amanda have encouraged the pupils to continue with STEM (science, technology, engineering & maths) subjects in their options choices and hopefully even further into the future with their career path. They have encouraged the students to becoming STEM ambassadors, carrying out training sessions in delivering the learning and helping them along on their route to a digital career.
Amanda said:
The project will provide the pupils with the opportunity to learn how to be creative with the Microbit and code digital name badges, games such as rock paper scissors or even make their own pedometer.
We will explore Physical computing by connecting headphones and play as well as code music to play through the Microbit. While also looking at connecting Microbits together to play games with friends. The pupils will then progress to using a game creation environment to then code their own 2d games.
We are working in partnership with Renfrewshire Council’s Digital Participation team and the Education department on this exciting project, supporting Renfrewshire Council’s Digital Strategy 2016-19 with the ambition of making sure everyone in Renfrewshire can ‘reach their Digital Potential’
In tackling this the Council wishes to work with the Education sector to prepare children and young people for the future labour market, aligning ICT education with the job market. This includes delivery of initiatives such as Coding Clubs.
Raymond Kane, Development Officer for Skills for Learning, Life and Work Children's Services at Renfrewshire Council said:
Inspiring young people to develop their digital skills and to embrace emerging technologies is crucial in addressing the projected digital skills gap. Establishment of coding clubs and provision of professional learning opportunities for teachers, in partnership with West College Scotland and Digital Xtra, are vital steps on this journey.
It is important that young people are taught not to be passive users of technology but are encouraged and inspired to become the next generation of digital makers and tech-minded ambassadors.
The sustainability of the Coding Clubs in schools will be further supported through involving and recruiting Renfrewshire Secondary school teachers in the programme. West College Scotland will deliver CPD sessions for teachers providing learning on use of the BBC Micro:Bit, Virtual Reality and digital making activity, giving them the skills and knowledge to sustain clubs in the future.
For more information on the Digital Xtra Fund and the initivatives its funding supports visit: http://www.digitalxtrafund.scot/