OpenTechSchool Learner Spaces Video Script

Introductions

• A:

  • I’m Amélie

  • Software Developers at SoundCloud

• B:

  • I’m Ben

  • Freelance Software Developer

• A:

  • a year ago

  • community tech enthusiasts

  • share fun of coding

  • free hands-on workshops

About OpenTechSchool

• B:

  • we’ve done: python, JS, android, ardunio, git and github

  • and other learners events: learners meetups and kids hackathon

• A:

  • expand on this

  • do more community learning events

  • and more in-depth programs

• B:

  • you already know that from the application

  • so we want to take the chance to talk a little about why we do this

About Amélie

• A:

  • I’m Amélie

  • I work on Machine Learning algorithms, specifically recommender systems for a living

  • love hacking in general

  • attending and organising hackathons as much as conferences

  • being a female developer is still an exception

  • bringing and keeping more women in our field

  • trying to make it more welcoming, supportive

  • and by showcasing role models

  • the tech scene has a diversity problem

  • other minorities are barely or not represented

About Ben

• B:

  • Am Ben, a self-tought software developer

  • been programming since an early age, wanted to become programmer

  • during school i had to learn that instructional classes do not work well for me

  • very hands-on learning style

  • therefore starting to study at university wasn’t appealing to me

  • Luckily found a job, with great mentors

  • but only few are so lucky, many are left behind

  • online universities having great offerings, but not enough

  • started, got stuck, stopped doing

  • need people around to help - not only when stuck, encourage and mentor

  • People don’t learn from computers, people learn from people.

What we’ve done

• A:

  • why we started OpenTechSchool

  • vibrant, friendly and welcoming learning environment for tech

  • experience people volunteer

  • they provide hands-on material

  • they coach beginners

  • we see a huge demand in those workshops, not only in Berlin

• B:

  • it’s documented and open sourced, so others built upon it

  • Have local teams in: Stockholm, Melbourne, Berlin, Hamburg and Zurich and others are on the way.

We have a problem

• A:

  • solely volunteers

  • limitations

  • introduced basic concepts of programming

  • get people excited during a week-end

  • week-end not enough

  • we’re set out to offer longer programs

  • in a dedicated tech learning space

  • built on the principles and values of OpenTechSchool

• B:

  • funding: already talking to local companies

  • great: sustaining through local community

  • but needs independance from their agenda which is recruting

  • to make sure the learning expierence doesn’t suffer

We need kickstart

• A:

  • need a kickstart by someone

  • shares similar goals and values

  • and that is why we’re applying for a Fellowship with the Shuttleworth Foundation

• B

  • Thank you for your time

  • Looking forward to hearing from you