Local Leadership Strategist to Speak at International Event in Ireland
Seattle, WA, October 15, 2016 --(PR.com)-- Doña Keating, president and CEO of Seattle-based Professional Options, LLC, will be a speaker at DojoCon, taking place Oct. 21-23 in Dún Laoghaire (Dublin area), Ireland. She will be the only U.S. presenter at the event, which will feature technology leaders from several countries.
DojoCon is the annual conference for CoderDojo, a growing worldwide movement to teach programming to young people for free. There are more than 1,100 CoderDojos in 63 countries, and the number is growing.
Keating, who is the strategic adviser for the nonprofit West Sound Technology Association, co-founded West Sound CoderDojo in 2015 under WSTA’s umbrella. As a parent of a young daughter who is interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), she believes it’s important to discuss new ideas for attracting girls to STEM.
“Coding is a second language that everyone should speak, and CoderDojo is about making coding accessible to everyone, including underrepresented populations,” Keating said.
Her presentation at DojoCon will focus on the importance of coding in the 21st century innovation economy, and how more girls, women, and other underrepresented communities can be attracted and empowered to learn, teach, or mentor code — and launch their own CoderDojos.
Since the start of West Sound CoderDojo in May 2015, more than 1,500 Kitsap Peninsula youth and parents have learned programming through this volunteer-led, community-based initiative.
“It is very exciting that Doña Keating of West Sound CoderDojo is in attendance and speaking at this year’s DojoCon in Dún Laoghaire,” said Ross O’Neill, community lead with the CoderDojo Foundation, headquartered in Dublin. “West Sound is the perfect example of how far the movement has reached and how a community can grow very strong using CoderDojo through amazing community members behind it.”
CoderDojo is not just about coding. In addition to learning programming from mentors, participants work in collaborative, peer-to-peer environments in ways that don’t fit into structured classroom instruction. The sessions are currently hosted on the Western Washington University campus in Poulsbo.
“As educators looking to the future, we know that programming is a skill that everyone will need to know to some degree,” said Candice Merrill, director of Western Washington University of the Peninsulas. “It is inspiring to see volunteers turning out week after week to help the kids, and it is especially exciting to see kids so intent, so focused on learning to code.”
For more information about West Sound CoderDojo, go to: westsoundcoderdojo.com.
About West Sound CoderDojo
West Sound CoderDojo is an initiative of the nonprofit West Sound Technology Association and is a licensed regional group under the CoderDojo movement that began in Ireland and grew globally. CoderDojo offers free computer programming for youth ages 8-18 and their parents. Volunteer adults facilitate the sessions, while students work in a self-paced, self-directed, interactive, and collaborative environment and serve as peer-to-peer mentors. www.westsoundcoderdojo.com
About Professional Options
Professional Options is a strategic leadership and management consulting firm which provides solutions for businesses, organizations, nonprofits, and governmental agencies around the globe. www.ProfessionalOptions.com
DojoCon is the annual conference for CoderDojo, a growing worldwide movement to teach programming to young people for free. There are more than 1,100 CoderDojos in 63 countries, and the number is growing.
Keating, who is the strategic adviser for the nonprofit West Sound Technology Association, co-founded West Sound CoderDojo in 2015 under WSTA’s umbrella. As a parent of a young daughter who is interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), she believes it’s important to discuss new ideas for attracting girls to STEM.
“Coding is a second language that everyone should speak, and CoderDojo is about making coding accessible to everyone, including underrepresented populations,” Keating said.
Her presentation at DojoCon will focus on the importance of coding in the 21st century innovation economy, and how more girls, women, and other underrepresented communities can be attracted and empowered to learn, teach, or mentor code — and launch their own CoderDojos.
Since the start of West Sound CoderDojo in May 2015, more than 1,500 Kitsap Peninsula youth and parents have learned programming through this volunteer-led, community-based initiative.
“It is very exciting that Doña Keating of West Sound CoderDojo is in attendance and speaking at this year’s DojoCon in Dún Laoghaire,” said Ross O’Neill, community lead with the CoderDojo Foundation, headquartered in Dublin. “West Sound is the perfect example of how far the movement has reached and how a community can grow very strong using CoderDojo through amazing community members behind it.”
CoderDojo is not just about coding. In addition to learning programming from mentors, participants work in collaborative, peer-to-peer environments in ways that don’t fit into structured classroom instruction. The sessions are currently hosted on the Western Washington University campus in Poulsbo.
“As educators looking to the future, we know that programming is a skill that everyone will need to know to some degree,” said Candice Merrill, director of Western Washington University of the Peninsulas. “It is inspiring to see volunteers turning out week after week to help the kids, and it is especially exciting to see kids so intent, so focused on learning to code.”
For more information about West Sound CoderDojo, go to: westsoundcoderdojo.com.
About West Sound CoderDojo
West Sound CoderDojo is an initiative of the nonprofit West Sound Technology Association and is a licensed regional group under the CoderDojo movement that began in Ireland and grew globally. CoderDojo offers free computer programming for youth ages 8-18 and their parents. Volunteer adults facilitate the sessions, while students work in a self-paced, self-directed, interactive, and collaborative environment and serve as peer-to-peer mentors. www.westsoundcoderdojo.com
About Professional Options
Professional Options is a strategic leadership and management consulting firm which provides solutions for businesses, organizations, nonprofits, and governmental agencies around the globe. www.ProfessionalOptions.com
Contact
Professional Options
Rodika Tollefson
360-792-9100
www.professionaloptions.com
Rodika Tollefson
360-792-9100
www.professionaloptions.com
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