Presentation about art&craft school Robotti and teaching creative coding for children. Presented in the Digital Technology in Arts Education-conference in Bergen, Norway, June 2017. http://www.dtae.eu

1. Creative coding in
Art & craft school Robotti
Tomi Dufva
Aalto-University, School of Arts, Design & Architecture
tomi.dufva@aalto.fi
tomidufva

2. • hackerspace for children
• non-profit association
• regular weekly classes
• workshops for all

3. • Alternative perspective to examine technology
• Alternative space to relate to technology
• Being active citizens in the digital world
• to emphasize the role of art has in our digital
world

4. Creative Coding
Creative coding is a type of computer
programming in which the goal is
to create something expressive
instead of something functional.
- The Art of Creative Coding: http://www.pbs.org/video/2322911761/

5. Creative Coding
Creative code may sound like an oxymoron,
but as in many technical processes
in the art studio, creativity may emerge
once rules are learned and then broken
- Knochel & Patton

6. Creative Coding
• Goal is not the function
• Creative coding as a tool to critical
understanding of digital technologies
• Goes beyond common understanding of
coding: electronics, circuit bending,
glitching, hacking

7. ”Art gives freedom to explore:
There is no wrong kind of code
Or if there is it can be interesting”
-Teacher, Käsityökoulu Robotti
Creative coding at Käsityökoulu Robotti

8. ”… also inspecting electricity
through sound, instead of metering
can be seen as art educational activity”
-Teacher, Käsityökoulu Robotti
Creative coding at Käsityökoulu Robotti

9. ”Creatively examining our coded structures can
evoke critical understanding of these surroundings”
-Teacher, Käsityökoulu Robotti
"well y'see THERE'S your problem!”
Creative coding at Käsityökoulu Robotti

10. if you can’t open it you
don’t own it
Creative coding at Käsityökoulu Robotti

11. INSPIRING:
• Doing together, Peer learning
• Freedom to experiment
• More embodied understanding, also lends to more critical understanding.
CHALLENGING:
- Getting the courage to try
- Not knowing where to start
- To find balance between instructing and giving space for experimentation
Creative coding at Käsityökoulu Robotti

12. Thank you!
Tomi Dufva
Aalto-University, School of Arts, Design & Architecture
tomi.dufva@aalto.fi
tomidufva