On Friday, 9 October, Contextualized Learning Solutions (CLS) hosted its very first in-person workshop at our offices in Paardevlei. We were delighted to welcome teachers from a range of schools in the surrounding areas, including Somerset West, Gordon’s Bay and Cape Town.
The focus of the afternoon was to explore practical ways of incorporating coding and robotics into the classroom, regardless of the resources available.
Developed with reference to the CAPS curriculum, the workshop focused particularly on the Grade R to Grade 3 age group. The activities introduced foundational computational thinking skills, including pattern recognition, sequencing, algorithms, abstraction, decomposition, debugging and logical thinking.
An important part of our approach is encouraging teachers and learners to build on each activity using their own imagination and ideas. This flexibility allows activities to be adapted to different ages, abilities and classroom contexts, giving learners the freedom to explore concepts in their own way.
Learning Through Practical Activities
The afternoon began with introductions from the CLS team and the participating teachers. It was encouraging to see how readily everyone engaged and connected, particularly when sharing the challenges of finding the time and resources to introduce coding and robotics into their lessons. Teachers exchanged ideas and recommendations based on their own experiences, naturally leading to discussions about CLS and the support we can offer schools.
We started with the basics, exploring how everyday activities can be broken down into smaller, ordered steps to introduce the fundamentals of algorithms. We then demonstrated how simple materials, such as coloured elastic bands, can be used to teach pattern recognition and introduce binary code. These activities highlighted how a single, low-cost resource can be used in different ways to develop important computational thinking skills.
Next, we explored the versatility of a grid mat and demonstrated how block-based coding concepts can be introduced through unplugged activities — without the need for computers or other electronic devices. This is particularly valuable for schools where access to technology is limited.
Building on the First Workshop
The workshop was a valuable opportunity for both the participating teachers and the CLS team to gain a better understanding of the challenges schools face, as well as the practical solutions that can help bring coding and robotics into more classrooms.
At CLS, we believe that learning by doing, creative problem-solving and accessible resources are key to making coding and robotics meaningful for teachers and learners alike. By starting with simple activities and building confidence step by step, we hope to empower more teachers to introduce these skills into their classrooms.
We look forward to building on the foundations established during this first workshop and exploring more of the tools, resources and activities available in our upcoming sessions.
A big thank you to all the teachers who joined us, shared their experiences and enthusiastically participated in the discussions and activities. We look forward to continuing this journey together!
Next workshop is scheduled for the 23rd October on the topic “Introduction to coding through block-based programming.“
