Caribbean Computer Coding Workshops - Caribbean Science Foundation

Caribbean Computer Coding Workshops (C3W)

Motivation

The knowledge-based workforce of the future will be heavily dependent on computer coding skills. It is believed that in the very near future computer coding will be as essential a skill to have for many entry-level positions, in the same way that word processing and spreadsheet facilities are today. Around the world, developing countries are training more and more of their students in computer programming (coding), and much of that focus begins with html (for Website Development) and cell-phone apps. Even at this level, the Caribbean is being left behind in the race. By not sufficiently developing computer programming skills in its population, the Caribbean is unable to take full advantage of its potential to build a modern-day workforce and to diversify its economies.

Workshop Goals

The goals of the workshop are to:

Help train the technology workforce of the future, especially girls and young women, as females are underrepresented in the ICT workspace (goal is a 50/50 gender balance)
assist with the training of persons with disabilities
help address the challenge of increasing the low numbers of skilled ICT workers in the Caribbean region
stimulate more technology-based entrepreneurship by encouraging the formation of more globally competitive ICT companies
stimulate more interest in science and engineering careers
generate more student interest in going beyond programming and into the field of advanced computer science
help prepare the younger students for university study in the STEM disciplines

Our approach is very much about helping to “teach our people to fish rather than giving them fish.”

These goals are consistent with the overall CSF goals of helping to diversify the economies of the Region and thereby raise the standard of living of the people. Thus, CSF projects have a long-term focus on stimulating more technology-based entrepreneurship, and grooming the next generation of Caribbean science and engineering leaders. We truly believe that there is no reason why the next “Google” cannot start in the Caribbean.

These Workshops provide a significant foundation for persons who wants to dive into the world of computer programming (specifically, Website Development, and Python and machine learning and its applications. Beginners sometimes want to build the next “Facebook” or “Google” without first mastering the fundamentals. Hence, these workshops aim to cover the basics while still providing a taste of the more advanced code libraries used to accomplish exciting results.

Targeted Groups

We offer the C3Ws online via the Zoom platform and can accommodate up to 30 participants per workshop. Applicants must be citizens of CARICOM and CARICOM Associate countries (not observer countries). Persons younger than 15 years old on the day on which the particular Workshop session begins are not eligible to apply to that Workshop.

The Workshops have a special focus on attracting: (1) more females to meet the 50/50 gender-balance goals of the Workshops, (2) unemployed and at-risk youth, and (3) persons with disabilities. If budget constraints permit, we will basically accept all applicants who satisfy the age requirement. However, for the Python and machine learning workshops, applicants are expected to have facility with basic algebra.

Anticipated Benefits of the Coding Workshops

A raised awareness and increased opportunities for more persons to consider science and engineering as career options
Better preparation of our students for university study in the STEM disciplines
A more appropriately trained future knowledge-based workforce – more graduates with enhanced skill sets and qualifications will obtain entry level positions in the workplace (especially at-risk youth)
Promotion of more technology-based entrepreneurship, and more self-employment opportunities for our youth
Eventual formation of more globally competitive ICT companies that could bring in more foreign exchange
Regional mobilization onto a path to catch up with the more developed countries in the ICT areas
Ignition and nurturing of the inventiveness in our youth so that the next “Google” has a reasonable probability of coming out of the Caribbean

Apply Now to the Summer 2025 Workshop

Three workshops will be being offered in parallel in the summer of 2025:

C3W.101 – Website Development I(HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP – for beginners)

C3W.201 – Introduction to Programming in Python (Basics for beginners)

C3W.301 – Introduction to Machine learning (Basics for beginners)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Wednesday 18 June 2025, 11:59 pm AST
Workshop Dates: 02 July to 23 August 2025
Classes held on: Saturdays 9:00 am – 12 noon AST (Barbados time)
Wednesdays: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm AST (Barbados time)
All classes are virtual and there are mandatory weekly homework assignments. These Workshops are not for persons who are looking to play video games and have fun.

Prospective students should read the information below that precedes the application form so they have some idea of the commitments that will be expected of them.

2025 Workshop Structure and Curricula

Coding Workshop Instructor Brandon Alleyne with the
Barbados Spring 2018 Level I class

In the summer of 2025, the Level I introductory website creation and development (C3W.101) begins with basic coding in HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP, and is tailored for persons having no previous experience in coding.

Introduction to Programming in Python (C3W.201)assumes no prior coding experience in Python, although concepts such as functions, variables, iteration will be helpful. The last third of the class focuses on applications such as videogame development

Introduction to Machine learning (C3W.201)assumes some prior coding experience (coding in Python will be the most helpful).This course introduces principles, algorithms, and applications of machine learning for modelling and prediction. It includes concepts of representation, over-fitting, and generalization in supervised learning and reinforcement learning with application to images.

In the last third of each workshop, the participants form teams, and the teams focus on the development of projects such as simple Websites, mobile Apps, video games, or data science applications that may be of interest to the teams. These final projects are displayed to a public audience on the last day of the Workshop.

Preliminary syllabi for the C3W.101 Workshop is shown below. Topics in the syllabi are subject to change at any time.

Typical Syllabus for C3W.101 – Introduction to Website Development
Class Topic

1 – Registration; Logistics; Principles of web design
2 – Introduction to HTML
3 – Creating a basic Website; free Web-hosting; Introduction to CSS (Fonts, colors and sizes)
4 – More HTML & CSS
5 – A deeper look (Animation and stylesheets)
6 – Creating tables, adding and manipulating images
7 – Introduction to JavaScript (Syntax and button interaction); Students form teams
8 – JavaScript – A deeper look (e.g., A simple game + Voice control & Web storage) – Teams come up with a Project
9 – Introduction and applications of PHP; Teams continue working on projects
10 – More PHP examples; Teams continue working on projects
11 – Teams continue working on projects
12 – Rehearsals; Teams continue working on projects
13 – Rehearsals; Teams complete projects
14 – Final Project Presentations to the public & closing ceremony (8:30 am to 12:30 pm AST)

Python is one the fastest growing programming languages and has been chosen owing to:(1) its simplicity, flexibility, compactness and readability, (2) the strength of its standard library, (3) its widespread adoption today as the entry-level language of choice in the world’s leading science and engineering universities, and (4) to assist the Region in moving away from Pascal at the CSEC examination level. The greatest immediate challenges are finding competent Python instructors who are interested in teaching, and enough students who would take the class.

Typical Syllabus for C3W.201 – Introduction to Programming in Python (Basics to video games for beginners)
Class Topic

1 – Logistics, Ground Rules, Diagnostic Survey, Introduction to Python
2 – Objects in Python
3 – Expressions, Statements and Operators
4 – Control Flow
5 – Functions; Input and Output
6 – Built-in Data Structures, CLI Games 1
7 – Exception Handling, CLI Games 2
8 – Classes, CLI Games 3; Students form teams
9 – Introduction to Pygame, GUI vs CLI; Teams come up with a project
10 – Game Loops and Game State; Events (Mouse and Keyboard), Surface Objects and Color; Teams continue working on projects
11 – Fonts and Animation; Example Games (Motion, dealing with gravity); Teams continue working on projects
12 – Rehearsals; Teams continue working on projects
13 – Rehearsals; Teams complete projects
14 – Final Project Presentations to the public (1:30 pm to 4:00 pm AST)

Selection Criteria for the Workshops

The CSF Coding Workshop Admissions Committee will be responsible for selecting the participants. Because of budget and class size limitations, the Committee may have to limit the number of participants in each workshop session. Only complete applications that arrive before the application deadline will be considered. Also, the lower age limit and the citizenship requirement will be strictly enforced.

In the case where the Workshops are oversubscribed (with applications) beyond the capacity of our budget, the Workshop participants will be selected taking the following factors into consideration in decreasing order of importance:

Gender balance: Females will be given preference over males in an effort to achieve our gender-balance goals for the workshops
Age of the applicant: Qualified older applicants may be given preference over younger applicants who may not yet be ready to enter the workforce
Disability: Persons with disabilities will be given preference over able-bodied persons
Date the application was received: Early applications may be given preference over later applications

Summer 2025 STUDENT APPLICATION FORMS

The summer 2025 Caribbean Computer Coding Workshops are targeted at applicants who are citizens of CARICOM and CARICOM Associate countries (not observer countries), and will be held in a virtual classroom on the Zoom platform. All applicants must be at least 15 years old on the day the Workshop begins. Please carefully read the instructions below before you begin to fill out your application, as these Workshops have strict commitment requirements that we are expecting you to honor.

Here are some of the specific commitments expected for participation in the Caribbean Computer Coding Workshops:

Only candidates who are serious about computer programming and/or computer science should apply, as these workshops apply simple concepts from algebra, geometry, and trigonometry (which we will teach), and homework is assigned each week. These Workshops are not camps where persons come predominantly to have fun, but are serious fast-paced workshops.

Candidates who are not prepared to do homework and some learning on their own (or in teams) should not apply, as they may be unable to keep up with the class.

The playing of video games, social media interaction, browsing websites unrelated to the Workshop, and engaging in other distracting or disruptive activity while participating in the Workshop may result in expulsion.

Please do not sign up for the workshop if you know now that you cannot commit the time. Participants who miss one or more classes are generally not able to make a significant contribution to a team, and it becomes unfair to the other team members who then have to carry the entire load all the way to the Final Projects Showcase.

By enrolling in a Workshop, you agree as a courtesy to the Instructors, to keep your camera on at all times during the workshop session. Participants who habitually break this agreement may be dismissed from the Workshop.

Finally, please note that Workshop participants are expected to use their own computers (that meet our minimum specifications). In exceptional cases, the CSF may be able to loan computers to participants at no cost. Should you need to apply for a loaned computer, please do so early as there is software that must be loaded onto the computer by the first day of the Workshop.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING OUT THE STUDENT APPLICATION FORM

A complete application consists of 4 Sections. The online application form is available
HERE

Please note that the same basic application form is used for all the Workshops. On the application form, please select your nationality and country of residence near the top of the form.

While you are filling out the application, please be advised that clicking on the SAVE button does not result in the submission of your application. You must keep going until you reach the Verification Page (Section IV) where you will find the SUBMIT button at the bottom of that page.

Note that if you are under 18 years of age, you must certify in Section IV that you have your parent’s permission to enroll in a Workshop. We reserve the right to check with your parents

Please type your responses whenever possible (illegible handwritten documents may not be accepted). Type N/A for questions which are not applicable.

Please make sure the content in your attachments is upright and legible.
Attachments with the content upside down on the page will annoy most reviewers.

Make sure your full name (i.e., first and last names) appears on all supplementary documents/attachments you submit to us. Also, please name your attachments to reflect their contents. We suggest you name your attachments using the following format “ C3W-2024-LastName, FirstName-DocumentName.pdf”. Attachments with file names such as “scan 003” could cause your attachment to be misfiled. If this happens, your application will be deemed incomplete. Further clarity in this regard can be found on the application form.

Applications will be rejected if incomplete or submitted later than the application deadline.

Use the checklist (below) of required supporting materials to help you complete your package.

CHECK LIST:

Check off each item as you submit it online, or as you attach it and submit it by e-mail to applications.csf@gmail.com .
Copy of document showing proof of age and of Caribbean citizenship – sent by e-mail or uploaded in Section I.
A high resolution photograph (passport style) of yourself sent by e-mail or uploaded in section I.
Uploaded the web-based application components (Sections I – IV).

Payment of the Workshop Fee

The participant workshop fee is US$ 100. The workshop fee helps to offset the costs of running the workshops. After the first week of classes the workshop fee is not refundable. If admitted to the Workshop, the Workshop fee of U$ 100 is due in advance of participation in the Workshop. For participants who are unable to pay in full at the beginning of the workshop, special arrangements for weekly or monthly payments can be made. A minimum of US$20 is due at the time of registration. Payment of the Workshop fee can be made via one of the following options:

Option 1: All participants may pay the workshop fee online by debit or credit card at the CADSTI-New England Website (https://cadsti-ne.org).

Please take a screenshot of the online payment transaction and share it with applications.csf@gmail.com as proof of payment.

Option 2: Barbados citizens may pay by online inter-bank transfer (Barbados banks only) to the CSF checking account (no wire transfers, please) using the following information:

Option 3: Citizens of Barbados may also pay by cash (Barbados or US currency) or with a Barbados check hand delivered to the CSF office. Please make the check payable to the Caribbean Science Foundation. Please call 417-7493 or send an e-mail to applications.csf@gmail.com to make arrangements with us before coming to the CSF office.

The office address is:

Donations to the Workshops Welcomed

Organizations or persons wishing to to make a contribution to the Workshops may do so by:

Online transaction via debit or credit card at the CADSTI-New England Website (https://cadsti-ne.org), or
By wire transfer. Please contact us for wiring details.

This action is tax deductible for US citizens).

INSTRUCTOR APPLICATION FORM

The CSF is currently seeking applications from qualified Instructors from anywhere in the world. A modest stipend is paid.

Applicants for the Website Development (C3W.101) Instructor positions will be expected to have facility with principles of web design that would include experience with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP.

Applicants for the Programming in Python (C3W.201) Instructor positions will be expected to have significant expertise with the language. Experience with the application of Python to any of the following would be an asset: video game development, programming Raspberry Pis and micro-controllers for the control of machines (robots, drones, appliances, and the Internet of Things).

Applicants for the Introduction to the Machine Learning course (C3W.301) must have considerable experience with the fundamentals, and with running machine learning algorithms for applications such as the processing big data, and image recognition.

To apply for an Instructor position, please fill out either the on-line application that can be accessed
HERE . Supporting materials such as your CV and a cover letter could be e-mai led in advance to the CSF headquarters (applications.csf@gmail.com) along with any other requested documents.

Our needs vary with time, as we add more sections and more Workshops. We can keep your application on file if a position is not immediately available. Please do not hesitate to contact us at applications.csf@gmail.com if you need more information.

Key Partner

A key partner of the CSF is the Barbados Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

History and Past Workshops

In order to help the Caribbean region to catch up with other developed countries, beginning in January 2018, the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF), Scotiabank, and the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS partnered to launch a Level I pilot of the CSF Computer Coding Workshops which ran on Saturday mornings in Barbados from January to March and again from September to December 2018. Thereafter, the Barbados workshops were held twice per year until May 2021, with the Fall 2020 and the Spring 2021 sessions being held virtually owing to the coronavirus pandemic. The Level I Workshop was replicated in St. Lucia and Dominica. The first two offerings of the St. Lucia Workshop took place from January 12 to March 30, 2019 at the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School, and from September 28 to December 14, 2019 at St. Mary’s College. The first session of the Dominica Workshop took place from January 11 to April 4, 2020, and the second session ran in a virtual mode (owing to the pandemic) from September 19 to December 5, 2020.

Coding Workshop Level I Inaugural Class, Instructors and sponsor’s representatives at inaugural opening ceremony 06 January 2018

In the summer of 2021, the CSF added an additional workshop (Programming in Python) and offered both workshops virtually to all English-speaking Caribbean countries (with particular focus on Barbados and the OECS). These workshops are now known as the Caribbean Computer Coding Workshops (C3W). Python was chosen to encourage the Region to switch away from testing our students in Pascal to the adoption of a more modern language such as Python. In the spring and summer of 2021, we added a second Python workshop (Programming in Python II) for participants with some previous coding ability.

In the spring of 2022 we added a second level to the Website development workshop to accommodate those students that had some Website development experience. Then in the summer of 2022 we repeated the spring 2022 curriculum, the only change being that we removed PHP and added REACT to the Level II curriculum of Website Development. In the spring of 2023 we repeated the summer 2022 curriculum. In the Spring of 2024 we offered only Level 1 of Website Development and Level 1 of Programming in Python.

Videos and News Clips

Please view the inspirational video below, produced by the St. Lucia Ministry of Education, to get a better understanding of the motivation for the holding the CSF computer coding workshops in the Region:

Participants in the Coding Workshops work in teams, and each team creates a Website, an App or a video game that solves a problem of interest to the team. At the Coding Workshop Final Projects Showcase which takes place on the final day of the Workshops, the teams show off their Websites, Apps and games to a public audience. Below are videos from the following Workshop final projects presentations:

Fall 2020 Dominica and Barbados Computer Coding Workshops on Website Development
Spring 2021 Barbados Computer Coding Workshop on Website Development
Summer 2021 Caribbean Computer Coding Workshop on Website Development
Summer 2021 Caribbean Computer Coding Workshop on Programming in Python

The Zoom video link to the Spring 2022 Website Development Showcase can be found
here.
The Zoom video link to the Spring 2022 Python I and Python II Showcase can be found
here.
Videos of the Summer 2022 Website Development levels I and II Showcase presentations can be found
here
and videos of the Summer 2022 Programming in Python levels I and II Showcase presentations can be found
here.

Have a look at the following news articles to see how creative past students have been:
More computer programmers in Barbados – Barbados Today, 29Dec2019
Exciting showcase concludes 4th CSF Computer Coding Workshop-Barbados – St Lucia News Online, Dec2019
Coding Skills Key – Barbados Advocate, 19Dec2019
Another economic pillar needed to complement tourism – Barbados Advocate, 19Dec2019