DSTI-CHPC Coding & Robotics Workshop
The Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC), funded by theDepartment of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) of the South African government, has launched a three-year flagship project aimed at raising awareness of coding and robotics within the Department of Basic Education and the general public. The project began in 2022 and ran until the end of March 2025. A new three-year project started in 2026. It involves training coding and robotics subject advisors and officials from all districts across South Africa’s nine provinces. The five-day training program covers key areas such as:
- Coding using Scratch software.
- An introduction to robotics and programming robots with Scratch.
- Arduino and Microbit Introduction
- Electronics Introduction
With the National Department of Basic Education in the process of implementing a coding and robotics curriculum in public schools, this initiative is expected to play a critical role in shaping and refining the basic school coding curriculum in South Africa.
Live site: https://chpctraining.github.io/dsi_coding_school/
Scratch
Scratch Is a visual programming language developed by the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Media Lab to teach programming fundamentals through a user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface. It allows users, particularly beginners and children, to create interactive stories, games, and animations by snapping together colourful code blocks. The scratch platform promotes understanding of programming concepts without writing complex code and supports a vibrant community where users can share and remix projects. Scratch is widely used in education to foster computational thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Robotics
This introduction to robotics for covers the essential components of robotics, including mechanics, electronics, coding, and sensors. It explains how these disciplines combine to create robots, emphasizing the role of microcontrollers and how it is used with an Arduino.
As a practical project, we will Scratch for Arduino to build a simple robotic arm. You will program servos to control the arm’s joints, learning to adjust angles and movements. This hands-on project introduces you to the basics of controlling mechanical parts with code, providing an interactive way to explore robotics and electronics.
The second part of the robotics training focuses on an introduction to the Microbit.
Lessons
Monday
- CHPC Intro Workshop Slides
- Day 1 Lesson Plan
- Scratch Introduction Guide
- Introduction to Scratch(2025)
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday/Friday
Timetable
Everyday will compromise of the different session as briefly shown in this timetable.
| Time | DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08:45 - 9:00 | Registration | Registration | Registration | Registration | Registration |
| 9:00 -10:30 | Opening: Computer Hardware and Coding for DSTI Workshop | Scratch Coding Session 3 | Robotics Practical Session 1 | Microbit Session 1 | Microbit Session 3 |
| 10:30 - 11:00 | Tea Break | ||||
| 11:00 - 13:00 | Scratch Coding Session 1 | Scratch Coding Session 4 | Robotics Practical 2 | Microbit Session 2 | Microbit Session 4 |
| 13:00- 14:00 | Lunch | ||||
| 14:00 -15:00 | CHPC Facility Tour | Scratch Coding Session 5 | Robotics Practical Session 3 | {codeclub} Session 1 | Feedback and Closing |
| 15:30 - 16:00 | Tea Break | ||||
| 16:00 - 17:00 | Scratch Coding Session 2 | Scratch Coding 6 | Robotics Practical Session 4 | {codeclub} Session 2 | Departure |