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TWENTY-SIX children were given a first-hand experience in coding for the first time at the Penang Digital Library in Jalan Mesjid Negri.
The children, aged between seven and 15, were selected by Datuk Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo to take part in the first trial initiative under the ‘Digital Learning Programme’ conducted by Telebort Technologies Sdn Bhd.
Facilitator of the class was wheelchair-bound Fatini Nadhirah Mohd Nain, 22, a Russel-Silver Syndrome (a congenital condition characterised by stunted growth, and limb or facial asymmetry) patient, who took it all in her stride as she taught the children.
She is a third-year Computer Science student majoring in Multimedia Computing at Universiti Sains Malaysia and currently doing her internship with Telebort Technologies.
The programme is under a collaborative effort between Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI) and Telebort Technologies Sdn Bhd, a mobile learning centre founded by Universiti Sains Malaysia graduates.
Divided into two classes based on age group, the hour-long lesson saw the youngsters going through a 15-level digital puzzle that required them to issue instructional commands to get the puzzle character through to the next level.
Telebort Technologies executive director Kee Chong Wei, who was present, said the trial class was aimed at giving the children basic coding exposure.
“The trial is merely a way to gauge their interest towards playing with codes and perhaps a potential future by giving them a hands-on experience, and knowing how to code in Malaysia automatically opens one to more than 88,000 job opportunities.
“Those interested in taking up further computer programming lessons are encouraged to join our three core programmes starting from creative computing before progressing to mobile app development and then to web design.
“Any revenue that we gain from our core programme lessons will be channelled towards making coding and computer science accessible to students from rural areas,” said Kee.
Also present for the event was CMI deputy general manager S. Bharathi, who said there are plans to have each assemblyman bring their constituents for the trial lesson.
The event wrapped up with certificates given to participants by Jagdeep Singh.
Source: The Star
Photo source: The Star