The impact of Code Club and Recycle a Device on digital literacy in Aotearoa
In today’s increasingly digital world, digital literacy and computer programming skills have become valuable assets for young people in Aotearoa. Initiatives like Code Club Aotearoa and Recycle a Device (RAD) emerged to address this need, and now they come together to make Code Club sessions accessible to a wider audience.
While Code Club does an excellent job of providing resources and guidance for young people who take part, there’s another crucial aspect to consider - access to devices. We know there are many tamariki and whānau who don’t have access to devices or internet at home, which is why we make sure every venue that signs up to host is able to provide them. However not all venues are able to do so and the last thing we want to do is limit participation, which is where RAD comes into play!
Every week, fifteen tamariki from west and south Auckland come together for an hour of coding at Glen Eden and Ōtāhuhu libraries. These are the settings for two of the first Code Clubs in Aotearoa working entirely with devices sourced from our Recycle a Device program and Raspberry Pi’s gifted to us by genesmith.ai.
Paul Bates, a software developer from Glen Eden and the sole volunteer of the Glen Eden Library Code Club, is keen to use the laptops and the Raspberry Pi’s to combine text-based programming language python with robotics at his sessions. He says:
"Building robots with Raspberry Pi offers a wide range of educational and developmental benefits for kids. It promotes hands-on learning, coding skills, problem solving, creativity, and prepares them for the technology-driven future. It's a fantastic and fun way to combine play and education in the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) while fostering teamwork and communication."
Glen Eden librarians Valerie and Kathy are pleased to give the RAD laptops a new life in this library-based Code Club; by providing a venue with wi-fi they’re also ensuring tamariki of West Auckland have access to the resources and devices they need to learn coding for (hopefully) years to come!
Over at Ōtāhuhu library, student numbers are smaller but the learning is just as valuable. Each week ākonga use donated and refurbished RAD laptops to work through the introduction to Python project path, with the occasional robotics and micro:bit activities thrown in the mix.
Emilio, 8 says:
“Using a laptop instead of the library computers makes me feel like a real game developer. Code Club is even more fun now!”
His brother, Miguel, 10, is enjoying learning in Python because:
“Python is more complex and I can make more projects than I could in Scratch. It will help me when I grow up and get a job.”
Jo Cocker, outgoing Digital Literacy Specialist at Auckland Libraries and LIANZA council member is supportive of this partnership approach:
“Working with organisations such as Recycle a Device and Code Club Aotearoa enables libraries to increase access to digital literacy learning for our tamariki and created opportunities for communities to get involved at a local level. Collaborative initiatives such as this are a great way to collectively address digital inequity in our communities. It would be great to see more initiatives like this supported to run in libraries across Auckland and Aotearoa in the future.”
The positive impact of both the Code Club and RAD initiatives on local communities is huge. By providing devices RAD is transforming library-based code clubs into thriving hubs of digital literacy. Together, RAD, Code Club, local libraries and volunteers are able to pave the way for a more equitable future for all of New Zealand’s youth. To find out more about RAD or to donate a device head to recycleadevice.nz. For all things Code Club head to codeclub.nz!