WeThinkCode_

Abstract

WeThinkCode_ is a tuition-free coding academy in Johannesburg that uses peer-to-peer learning methods. Launched in 2015, it positioned itself as a tertiary learning environment for anyone aged 17-35 looking to acquire digital skills. In South Africa, socio-economic circumstances for the majority of the population mean that their access to fees-based graduate training opportunities is limited. This is despite a significant undersupply of skilled software developers and many companies citing a lack of such skills as a strategic challenge. This mixed methods case study uses elementary statistical methods and thematic analysis to review elements of WeThinkCode_. Three transitions in the student journey are used as a high level framework to elicit insights about how the school works; (1) Applicant to Participant, (2) Participant to Learner and (3) Learner to Contributor.Applicant to Participant: The school attracts large numbers of economically disadvantaged individuals, filters them for programming affinity and inducts a manageable sized cohort into campus life. Participant to Learner: There is a well structured and continuously improving framework including life skills as well as core and elective modules over two years which facilitates the individual and collective learning process with strict performance measures. Learner to Contributor: Four month internship programmes in each year of study help students prepare for the workplace and build relationships with the corporates who sponsored their studies. The 2016 cohort has progressed through this student journey at WeThinkCode_ to become the first batch of workplace-ready programmers. Further work is also proposed including a socio-economic study of the contribution of the 2016 cohort and a comparison with relevant traditional tertiary education institutions covering costs, sustainability and student performance.