Get signed up for Jukebox Joy ahead of British Science Week

Date published: 09 January 2019


Primary school children in the Oldham area will be encouraged to play with their food in free computer programming workshops being offered by ComputerXplorers during British Science Week (March 8-17, 2019).

The Jukebox Joy workshops will see pupils using coding blocks to turn a micro:bit mini-computer into a jukebox controlled by lemons, oranges or bananas.

There’s a limited number of places available, so interested schools should register their interest as soon as possible via: https://manchester.computerxplorers.co.uk/ 

Micro:bit mini-computers are a simple but powerful piece of kit designed for people who are just getting started with computer programming.

Griffin Cheng at ComputerXplorers hopes that local schools will seize the opportunity to give pupils access to the workshops as part of their own British Science Week activities.

He said: “Any parent or teacher will tell you that children learn best when they’re having fun.

“And we all know that STEM skills such as computer programming are vital for this generation of schoolkids.

"But their interest often wanes once they hit secondary school.

"So, we’re determined to do all we can to ignite children’s enthusiasm at a young age by showing them that computer programming is creative and exciting.

"Making music with fruit is a great and memorable way to do this.”

Aligned with British Science Week’s core goals and geared towards primary school pupils aged eight and over (Years 4-6), Jukebox Joy is an entertaining and engaging workshop.

It doesn’t simply teach skills, but stimulates children to stretch their abilities and try new things.

The free, two-hour Jukebox Joy workshops are part ComputerXplorers’ Programming for Primaries initiative, which has been running for six years.

This is the fourth time it has been held in conjunction with British Science Week.

To date, more than 1,700 children and 100 teachers have benefitted from free workshops and CPD sessions offered as part of the scheme.  

To sign up, visit: https://manchester.computerxplorers.co.uk/what-we-do/programming-for-primaries-activity-computerxplorers-free-coding-and-programming-workshop


Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.