Building The Next Generation of Web Developers In Africa

[williamjackson]

Building The Next Generation of Web Developers In Africa
William Jackson, M.Ed.


Lagos Youth Camp

KidsCamp Organizer for WordCamp Orlando
and Jacksonville Co-Organizer Aida Correa

The 2018 WordCamp Orlando conference in
the United States has drawn hundreds each
year to learn about what is new in technology.

Attendees from across the country and even
from foreign nations attend to learn business
tips, SEO – Search Engine Optimization strategies,
applying eCommerce tools, business law, web
development, new coding integration, and more.

The growing WordCamp conferences in Africa are
creating networking and collaboration changes for
Bloggers, Video-Bloggers, Podcasters, YouTubers
and Journalists.

The dynamic environment of a WordCamp is a building
of community that is democratizing the web. Allowing
people to create innovative and dynamic content to
connect globally.

As a WordCamp speaker, volunteer, advocate and
organizer I regularly sponsor students and teachers
to attend to gain a unique experience.
There are a growing number of youth and teens
attending WordCamp  with Youth Camp. African
youth, teen and young adults have something to
say about what is going with web development
and emerging technologies in Africa.

This year's #WCORL in America has seen
presentations by teens expressing their understanding
of where the web is going and suggesting on the
direction the web should take.

Sharing their concerns, visions, innovative ideas
for business development, marketing, building
Brands and creating Niches.

Youth, teens and young adults are building
businesses and willing to share their ideas about
how the web can help in Branding and Marketing.
This is growing in size in Africa on the continent
and is not a trend, but a moment.

Young African people want to be heard and should
be heard, they are the future of web development
and online businesses in Africa, they will help to
stabilize African economies and create
digital changes in the African educational systems
in place.

Because of the inclusiveness of the web and the
ease of digital tools youth, teens and young adult
are creating businesses, building diverse content
and involved in community activism.

KidsCamp Orlando 2018 theme is "SPACE," directed
by Lead Organizer William Jackson and Co-Organizer
Aida Correa the youth attending from 7 yrs to 14 yrs
were involved in STEAM related projects that helped
prepare their first web site on the
Wordpress.com platform.

Using the free hosting service option, the youth
attending created a dynamic web presence that will
grow as they grow in their skills and abilities.

The same curriculum that is applied by William Jackson
and Aida Correa shows that STEAM is a global equalizer
in building critical thinkers, thought leadership and
innovative creatives.

The focus on elements of STEAM –
Science Technology Engineering Arts Math/Music
to engage youth in learning that is fun, creative
and begs for innovation.

Project based learning is a powerful tool for youth
that are autistic and creative thinkers too. All children
are encouraged to be creative and innovative, not
constrained by the limitations of the traditional
classroom model. KidsCamp is a great opportunity
for kids to network in their communities and on
the African continent.   

KidsCamp should be a part of every WordCamp
conference globally because youth, teens and young
adults are demanding equal access
to knowledge and developing their skills just as adults.
African nations that are progressive like Nigeria,
South Africa and Kenya are implementing diverse
learning skill-sets. As youth grow so does the need for
them to be taught how to be producers of content
not just consumers and to start new businesses for
the 22st and 23nd century.

KidsCamp Miami Panel Discussion
https://wordpress.tv/2016/05/02/kids-wordpress-panel-discussion/

WordCamps in Africa in 2018
WordCamp Harare
https://2018.harare.wordcamp.org/

WordCamp Nairobi
https://2018.nairobi.wordcamp.org/

WordCamps in Africa in 2019
WordCamp Lagos
https://2019.lagos.wordcamp.org/

WordCamp Bulawayo
https://2018.bulawayo.wordcamp.org/

Resources:
William Jackson, M.Ed.
My Quest To Teach – myquesttoteach@gmail.com
http://myquesttoteach.com/
Aida Correa – heisintheart@gmail.com
http://lovebuiltlife.com/
WordCamp Orlando
https://2018.orlando.wordcamp.org/
WordCamp Central
https://central.wordcamp.org/

[bl8jaxnative]

**LOVE**