Code Club Spotlight: Physical Computing with Amesbury School Code Club

At Code Club Aotearoa, we’re constantly impressed by the innovative ways our clubs bring digital technology to life. This month, we spoke with Brydon, the club leader at Amesbury School Code Club in Pōneke, Wellington. With the help of dedicated volunteer Beilei, the club focuses on physical computing projects, using hands-on activities to captivate and inspire young learners in technology.

Kia ora Brydon! Can you tell us a bit about the Amesbury School Code Club?

Amesbury School Code Club kicked off in Term 3 this year, so we’re still a fairly new club, but we’re finding our feet, having a great time, and learning so much along the way.

We’ve got a core group of about eight students who attend nearly every session, though we also have a few others who pop in and out when they can.

The club itself was the brainchild of our amazing volunteer, Beilei, who is a parent of one of our students. Starting a Code Club had been on her mind for a few years, so we were thrilled when we finally got it up and running.

We started with Scratch and explored a few other applications, but then we decided to dive into physical computing. The students are loving the hands-on experience of assembling electronic components—it’s been such a hit!

Ka rawe! For such a young club, it sounds like you’ve already accomplished a lot. What inspired you to focus on physical computing for your club?

Many of the students love working with 3D printers, and they mentioned wanting more hands-on activities. That idea really resonated with Beilei and I because we believe it’s a great way for them to build a solid understanding of how the machines they use every day actually work.

We hear that often! When you have access to hardware, it seems to be one of the best ways to keep learners engaged and excited. What are some of the favourite projects tamariki have worked on so far?

Well, one of the biggest highlights for our club so far was winning the Raspberry Pi— thank you so much for that! The students were absolutely thrilled.

When we first started, they really enjoyed creating simple games, which was a great introduction to coding. But the real magic happened when Beilei brought in batteries, diodes, fans, and switches for them to (safely) experiment with. Watching their reactions as they assembled components and saw something come to life—like a light turning on or a fan spinning—was incredible.

You’re welcome! We were thrilled to hear the lucky winners were already exploring physical computing. Running a Code Club isn’t without its hurdles. Can you share some challenges you’ve faced and how you overcame them?

Time is definitely one of our biggest challenges! We run Code Club during lunchtime, and by the time club members have eaten and we’ve unpacked all the materials, it feels like it’s time to pack up again. Honestly, we haven’t quite cracked that one yet, but we’re doing our best to make every minute count!

Time always feels like the biggest challenge! What impact have you seen on tamariki who attend regularly? 

The biggest change we’ve noticed is in their confidence with the materials. Even though we’ve only been running for a short time, our regular attendees are already much more comfortable and knowledgeable when it comes to using the components. And the more comfortable they get, the more fun they have—and the more they learn as a result.

That’s wonderful to hear! A key part of our mission is to help club members build their confidence and eventually pass on their skills by becoming volunteers in the future. With that in mind, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about starting a Code Club? Especially one with a focus on physical computing.

Just go for it! Code Club has an excellent curriculum that you can follow, but you can also create your own if that suits your group better. One thing we’ve found particularly helpful with physical computing is giving the learners plenty of time to “mess around and find out.” That freedom to experiment really sparks curiosity and makes the sessions more engaging!

Thank you, Brydon, for sharing your insights and for your incredible dedication to supporting Code Club ākonga. We truly appreciate all that you and Beilei do!

If you’re inspired by Brydon’s story, you can support the next generation of coders by becoming a Code Club leader today.