The Tangible Africa project introduces learners to coding concepts without the use of computers. The main tools for this are the coding apps TANKS, RANGERS and BOATS. Since 2017, fifty thousand learners have been reached through coding workshops across the country. The project has been enhanced with various offline lessons plans, coding kits and other resources.
Professor Jean Greyling is an Associate Professor and Head of Department in Computing Sciences at Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha. He is mainly involved in teaching and research related to programming and undergrad and postgrad level. His other passion is making learners aware of the great career opportunities in computing. Since 2017 he has been coordinating the Tangible Africa coding project (mainly with the TANKS coding app), introducing learners to coding without the use of a computer. The project has reached around 50000 learners across South Africa, targeting disadvantaged schools without computer labs. In April 2022 he received the Distinguished Service in ICT Award from the Institute of IT Professionals South Africa. The project has received various other local, national, and global accolades.
