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One thousand children, one room and a lot of code - welcome to the future One thousand children, one room and a lot of code - welcome to the future
(about 2 hours later)
When we ran our first coding event for young people in 2009, it took me three months to find 50 young coders in the whole of the UK.When we ran our first coding event for young people in 2009, it took me three months to find 50 young coders in the whole of the UK.
Our event, Young Rewired State’s Festival of Code, offered a free weekend of coding and mentoring at Google’s offices in London. I did find those young coders eventually - and one by one - but the magic of that first weekend was that all those talented and self-taught youngsters walked into a room full of kids exactly like them, who understood their passion: digital languages and building stuff from nothing.Our event, Young Rewired State’s Festival of Code, offered a free weekend of coding and mentoring at Google’s offices in London. I did find those young coders eventually - and one by one - but the magic of that first weekend was that all those talented and self-taught youngsters walked into a room full of kids exactly like them, who understood their passion: digital languages and building stuff from nothing.
I remember realising that lifetime friendships were being created in that moment. That was what was important – not getting these kids to engage with democratic governance or open data, but to introduce them to each other. It created a real-life web of humanity, a network of happy, supported and competitively brilliant young people. All of my middle-aged tech genius friends were often isolated in their skills – what if they never had that isolation from the beginning?I remember realising that lifetime friendships were being created in that moment. That was what was important – not getting these kids to engage with democratic governance or open data, but to introduce them to each other. It created a real-life web of humanity, a network of happy, supported and competitively brilliant young people. All of my middle-aged tech genius friends were often isolated in their skills – what if they never had that isolation from the beginning?
Six years on and the Festival of Code is more important than ever. This week, nearly 1,000 children aged seven to 18 are taking part in 61 centres across the UK, building apps, websites, games and writing algorithms to solve real-world problems.Six years on and the Festival of Code is more important than ever. This week, nearly 1,000 children aged seven to 18 are taking part in 61 centres across the UK, building apps, websites, games and writing algorithms to solve real-world problems.
Our coders are completely free to build whatever they like, but we ask that they use at least one piece of open data, or create their own open data collection for others to use. On 1 August, all those young people will travel to Plymouth for a code showdown, showcasing what they have made in X Factor-style heats and finals. (It’s not all work; they get to let off steam with bubble football, skate parks, digital graffiti, photobooths, chiptune artists and famous speakers.)Our coders are completely free to build whatever they like, but we ask that they use at least one piece of open data, or create their own open data collection for others to use. On 1 August, all those young people will travel to Plymouth for a code showdown, showcasing what they have made in X Factor-style heats and finals. (It’s not all work; they get to let off steam with bubble football, skate parks, digital graffiti, photobooths, chiptune artists and famous speakers.)
Digital skills in education has been a hot topic for the past few years and Young Rewired State, the organisation behind the Festival of Code, was a champion of that effort - but the festival is much more about this community of young people.Digital skills in education has been a hot topic for the past few years and Young Rewired State, the organisation behind the Festival of Code, was a champion of that effort - but the festival is much more about this community of young people.
I’m hugely proud of the Young Rewired Staters. I have seen them grow up and though I hate to single out any particular story, this year I discovered @JO_JO_LOL, one of a vocal group of girl coders determined to make as much noise as possible about the work they are doing.I’m hugely proud of the Young Rewired Staters. I have seen them grow up and though I hate to single out any particular story, this year I discovered @JO_JO_LOL, one of a vocal group of girl coders determined to make as much noise as possible about the work they are doing.
I don' think i've ever learnt so much coding in my life! it's all down to #YRS2014 #YRSFoC @aneeqamunir @callum_css @cdmh @hubmum thank you!I don' think i've ever learnt so much coding in my life! it's all down to #YRS2014 #YRSFoC @aneeqamunir @callum_css @cdmh @hubmum thank you!
@hubmum no problem, i've already taught my brother ;) and ok, i''l check him out!@hubmum no problem, i've already taught my brother ;) and ok, i''l check him out!
#YRS2014 #YRSFoC GIRLS CAN CODE! pic.twitter.com/JNwdFtZpSV#YRS2014 #YRSFoC GIRLS CAN CODE! pic.twitter.com/JNwdFtZpSV
Last year one of the many YRSers who touched my heart was Jenny Lea; she was keen to do her bit to help show that code clubs aren’t the exclusive domain for the kid who sits in the library hacking into the dinner menu and school grades system.Last year one of the many YRSers who touched my heart was Jenny Lea; she was keen to do her bit to help show that code clubs aren’t the exclusive domain for the kid who sits in the library hacking into the dinner menu and school grades system.
And Harry Rikards has been another star of this year. He’s about to leave the UK to study a degree in computer science at MIT (all expenses paid by them) but has been a YRSer since 2010. We should celebrate his self-taught genius (the kind Young Rewired State thrives on) with a standing ovation as he leaves us to go learn even more at MIT, and we’ll welcome him back in a few years with open arms. And Harry Rickards has been another star of this year. He’s about to leave the UK to study a degree in computer science at MIT (all expenses paid by them) but has been a YRSer since 2010. We should celebrate his self-taught genius (the kind Young Rewired State thrives on) with a standing ovation as he leaves us to go learn even more at MIT, and we’ll welcome him back in a few years with open arms.
With 40 children from the international YRS community, as well as a centre of young people joining us remotely from Kosovo, the festival is about so much more than coding.With 40 children from the international YRS community, as well as a centre of young people joining us remotely from Kosovo, the festival is about so much more than coding.
If your children are interested in coding, please come and join us in Plymouth for our grand finale on Sunday 3 August. These children are already talented, creative and enthusiastic coders, but they will also be the people who build the technologies of our future. If your children are interested in coding, please sign up and come and join us in Plymouth for our grand finale on Sunday 3 August. You can follow us on Twitter at #YRS2014. These children are already talented, creative and enthusiastic coders, but they will also be the people who build the technologies of our future.