What is The Code Lab?
We Provide Coding Courses, Workshops & Camps for Kids Age 7 to 13 Years. We teach kids about Coding & Computer Science in a fun and innovative way. We teach a range of coding languages, all designed for children.
Kids Can Learn To Code Online with our Step-By-Step Video Lessons where they can code at their own pace. We hve online courses to suit kids coding at home or coding at school.
Kids can get Hands-on With Technology at one of our Workshops, Camps or Events.
The Code Lab offer Online & In-Person Coding Courses, Workshops & Events for Primary School Kids in 2nd to 6th Classes.
The Possibilities Are Endless When A Child Learns To Code
About Joan McCann
Joan is the Founder and Lead Instructor at The Code Lab. She is passionate about demystifying the world of Coding & Computer Science for Kids.
Joan has a BSc. in Computer Science and worked in the IT Industry for many years, before taking a career break to focus on her family. With four young children, she went in search of coding/STEM courses suitable for their age but couldn’t find any, SO SHE CREATED HER OWN!
She has been teaching children’s coding courses, workshops, camps & school lessons since 2018, and moved online in 2021. She continues to grow her online portfolio, allowing her to share her passion for Coding & STEM with Children all over Ireland.
The Code Lab's Story So Far
2024: New Logo and Website Makeover. Hope you like it! We have lots planned for 2024, The Code Lab team are going to be very busy building online courses for kids at home and kids in school to code along with. We are also planning a series of coding camps in Co Louth for those of you living closeby, so you can get hands on with technology.
Schools – watch this space, lots coming down the pipeline in 2024 to make coding more accessible for your school. Get in touch to find out more…
Keep an eye on TheCodeLab.ie, we have lots of new and exciting things planned for 2024 and beyond!
2023: TheCodeLab.ie launches a new suite of online coding courses for kids. Since then, kids all over Ireland are coding along with The Code Lab’s online coding lessons.
Joan took part in ACORNS, an accelerator programme designed to support early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland. Learn about Joan’s ACORNS journey.
Also in 2023, Joan joins Brendan Courtney on RTE Radio One to discuss the ACORNS Programme and her journey to entrepreneurship. You can listen to Joan’s interview here.
Joan is featured in The Argus/Independent Newspaper to promote the upcoming ACORNS programme for 2024. Checkout this full page article.
The Code Lab is involved in presenting DojoMór 2023 Online Coding Event for Kids, what a milestone for our Small Irish Business!
Joan works alongside the major Technological Universities around the country, offering her experience and expertise to provide tailored workshop video’s to suit a younger audience and inspire the next generation of coders. The Code Lab also delivers two of the DojoMór workshops online.
2022: The Code Lab’s portfolio of online courses has grown, and Joan is back in the classroom and back in worshops and camps, as restrictions have eased
2021: The Code Lab ran some pre-recorded online lessons, these were step-by-step video lessons for children to code along with and work at their own pace. These have been a huge success, feedback is fantastic from both children and parents.
2020: Joan’s coding lessons moved Online, running live online coding lessons and courses for kids in lockdown. These online lessons were a huge hit, and offered ch.ldren all over Ireland an outlet during the COVID Pandemic lockdown!
2019: Joan added more courses to her portfolio, and moved into the area of coding and electronics using the BBC micro:bit, and Microsoft MakeCode. She ran an electro-fashion workshop for girls using the Micro:bit and Conductive Thread to make light-up high-vis garments. She also delved into the world of robotics with Micro Maqueen and the BBC Micro:bit.
2018: Joan began teaching Scratch coding lessons, first in schools, and then at camps and workshops at weekends and midterm breaks.
2017 – 2019: Joan was a volunteer coding instructor at her local CoderDojo in DKIT for three years mentoring young children in Scratch coding. This formed the foundation for Joan’s extensive knowledge and experience teaching kids coding, and her passion for encouraging more young kids into technology and STEM. Joan returned each year for the annual DKIT DojoMór and again in 2022 to celebrate 10 years of CoderDojo in DKIT with fellow-volunteers.
