NMU prof helps teachers crack coding — without computers

Article in The Herald and Daily Dispatch on Friday 12 February by Zamandulo Malonde

Thousands of schools in SA are still without computers and the spread of coding knowledge among pupils from an early age is relatively slow.

Because the problem cannot be solved overnight, Nelson Mandela University (NMU) professor Jean Greyling is using workshops to educate teachers about coding, without computers.

The aim of the Unplugged Coding Zoom Workshops is to equip teachers from across SA and beyond with the knowledge to introduce pupils in their various schools and communities to coding using their cellphones.

Learners participate in a TANKS tournament at Alexander Road High Mole Day, January 2020.

The workshops, which started on February 3, have garnered interest from more than 400 people, including professional teachers, community NGO representatives and staff from provincial education departments.

Unplugged coding is taught through coding games and mobile apps such as TANKS and BOATS, developed by Greyling and a team of NMU computer science students.

The first round of workshops, scheduled for February 3, 10 and 17, secured 455 registrations by Wednesday from people across SA as well as Mozambique, Ghana, Namibia, Egypt and Taiwan.

Greyling said most SA teachers were not equipped with coding knowledge and, consequently, most of the country’s pupils completed their schooling without any awareness of coding — and potentially lucrative careers in software development.

TANKS coding club in Tsomo - photo provided by Lusanda Maqungo

“The focus on unplugged coding goes a long way in empowering teachers to introduce coding to their learners, even if they are from disadvantaged communities, or personally do not have a coding background,” Greyling said.

The first two workshops focused on teaching educators how to lay good foundations and coding concepts in the early years (from grades R to 2) and unplugged coding tools for pupils in grades 5-7.

The third workshop, on February 17, will focus on the need for computational thinking skills in the teaching and learning of coding for pupils in grades 8 and 9.

The project is a collaboration between Games Powered by Tangibl (the TANKS, RANGERS and BOATS apps) and the YEEES Project — a research collaborative project involving academics from NMU, Namibia, Mozambique and Germany. The project is sponsored by DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Learners in Nelson Mandela Township, Port Alfred, playing TANKS. Photo by Jan Blom from Nemato Change a Life [Front: Mike Hlangane (15) back, left to right: Siyanda Qutywa (17) Axole Tokota (14) Vuyolwethu Mavuso (15)]

Laurus Primary School teacher Amanda Pieterse, who joined the first workshop, said: “The workshop last week was so extremely motivating and invigorating.

“It opened my mind to so many creative ideas and filled me with excitement [for] what’s to come.” 

During the first workshop, Hudson Park Primary School’s Kelly Bush introduced BOATS Coding Lessons, which a number of delegates volunteered to roll out in their classes over the next few weeks, Greyling said.

“This is in preparation of the launch of the BOATS School Kit, aimed at grades R to 3.

“As a result of the response, we are now making plans to provide more concrete assistance to teachers who want to implement these lessons in their classes,” he said.

BOATS Coding is a mobile coding game designed to educate children about marine pollution.

“We have been talking coding and 4IR for a long time and I think it’s so great we are getting together, brainstorming about real examples and strategies to get this off the ground,” Collegiate High School teacher Keith Gibson said.

"[I’ve] been teaching ICT for over 30 years and [I’ve] never been so excited as now!

“The sky and our imagination is the limit.”

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