Greetings, fellow educators and coding enthusiasts! Today, I want to share my excitement about a transformative platform that has changed the way I approach teaching coding – Grok Academy.

So, who or what is Grok Academy?

Grok (verb): to understand intuitively or by empathy.

Thanks to the generous support of WiseTech Global, who have committed to a 5-year partnership with Grok Academy, the online computer programming platform is now free for Australian students, teachers and parents from 2023, and Aotearoa New Zealand schools from 2024.

As an educator, I’ve always sought ways to make coding classes more engaging and interactive. Grok Academy is like a dream playground for teachers. It takes the abstract world of coding and transforms it into a dynamic, hands-on experience, allowing students to experiment, learn, and thrive in a supportive environment.

Teaching goes beyond the classroom, and Grok Academy understands the importance of community. The platform encourages students to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another. What better way to do this than through healthy competitions! Grok Academy runs various competitions a year such as the NCSS Challenge, covering Blockly and Python programming, and the Web.Comp covering web development.

Grok Academy has certainly redefined my approach to teaching coding. It’s not just a platform; it’s a companion in the quest for knowledge, an ally in fostering a love for coding, and a partner in building a community of problem solvers.

Remember, you don’t have to want to become a coder to learn coding!