Collaborative STEM initiative will provide kits and resources for applicants to set up youth-focused code clubs in their local communities.
Bangalore, India, 16 May 2019: element14.com, the online community for engineers, has announced the launch of their latest STEM initiative, the Summer Code Club Challenge, in association with educational project kit developers Kitronik.
Following the success of last year’s Great micro:bit giveaway – which inspired creative design projects from educators in locations including Chile, Romania, New Zealand and Canada – the Summer Code Club Challenge aims to empower parents, teachers and STEM ambassadors to set up summer code clubs in their local communities, helping young people access coding and digital literacy resources and support while schools are closed.
Anyone who runs or would like to run a code club between the months of June and August 2019 can submit an application detailing when, where and how they plan to run their local club. Successful applicants will be provided with micro:bit club packs and Kitronik Inventor Kits containing all the equipment and resources needed to run a full curriculum of simple projects and experiments.
In addition, participating clubs will be challenged to come up with a simple interactive game using the resources provided. At the end of the summer, a panel of expert judges will select one creative gaming project to be awarded a batch of ten Raspberry Pi model B+ Starter Kits, worth around $500 at RRP.
Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for the element14 Community, said: “Volunteer-run code clubs are an invaluable resource for young people who wish to develop their knowledge of electronics and digital literacy.”
“After our last education initiative involving the micro:bit inspired so many incredible projects from our members around the world, we are excited to build on this success and empower our members to run code clubs in their local communities with the help of our partners at Kitronik.”
Kevin Spurr, Sales and Marketing Director at Kitronik, added “As a company that specialises in developing electronic project kits, supporting coding opportunities for young people is at the heart of what we do as a business.”
“Our Inventor Kits were designed to make learning with micro:bit creative, accessible and fun for all ages. We’re delighted to be supporting our partners at the element14 Community in this initiative to share our kits with STEM clubs around the world.”
Applications for the Summer Code Club Challenge are open now and will close on Friday 31st May. Applicants simply need to register an account at the element14 Community and leave a comment underneath the announcement post detailing where and when they’d like to run their club, and how many students they’d anticipate taking part. Established code clubs are welcome to apply.
For more information including full terms and conditions, visit https://www.element14.com/community/community/stem-academy/microbit