As we talk to Yonca Kurt, a distinguished educator in robotics and coding, her passion for technology is immediately evident. Yonca is the founder of Tech Study UK and we’re pleased to be working together with this enterprising London-based company to host a series of Robotics and Coding summer camps. These will be held at one of the UK capital’s premier educational institutions, David Game College in July/ August 2025.  

Yonca is originally from Türkiye (Turkey) where she is a well-known media spokesperson on technology issues but has lived in London for the past few years where Tech Study UK has become a growing phenomenon. In this post, we explore some of her journey, her thoughts on coding education and what will make this innovative new camp a unique experience for students.

Academic Summer: Yonca, your face lights up when you hear the words robotics and coding… Tell us how did you first became interested in technology?

Yonca Kurt: Yes I love it. It’s such fun. Really, really fun. So, my interest started in high school. Back then, computers were still quite new and my parents encouraged me to attend a specialist school where I could study computer science. From the very beginning, I was fascinated by what computers could do, but I also remember the challenges. Coding didn’t come naturally to me at first; I often felt like I couldn’t understand anything. But instead of giving up, I promised myself that one day, I would find a better way to teach coding to students like me – those who found it difficult but still wanted to learn!

Academic Summer: That’s such a powerful story. It seems overcoming challenges played a key role in shaping your career.

Yonca Kurt: Absolutely. I think my early struggles gave me empathy as a teacher. I understand what it’s like to feel lost in front of a computer screen and I’ve made it my mission to ensure my students never feel that way. I started teaching when I was just 20 and I’ve spent over 20 years developing methods that make coding understandable and enjoyable. When I began, I also created my own curriculum because schools didn’t offer coding. It’s been rewarding to see students’ excitement when they realise they can create something that works, whether it’s a program that lights up an LED or a robot that moves.

Academic Summer: How did you transition from teaching coding to having students win international robotics competitions?

Yonca Kurt: It all started when I attended a training session about Arduino and was introduced to it. This is an open-source electronic prototyping platform enabling users to create interactive electronic objects. I have been teaching coding for years, but I realised that Arduino makes it more creative and fun. I was fascinated and thought, “I need to bring this to my students.”

I went back to my school, created a robotics club at my school and within a year, we had developed projects good enough to compete internationally. I wanted my students to see that they could take their ideas out into the world. We then attended a science fair in Canada and my students won gold medals. That was a turning point. It wasn’t just about coding anymore; it was about showing young people that they can solve real-world problems with technology.
 

Academic Summer: With AI becoming more prominent, do you think coding is still an important skill for young people to learn?

Yonca Kurt: That’s an excellent question. I get asked that all the time. AI can write code, yes, but if you don’t know the basics, how will you understand if the code is correct? How will you know what to ask the AI to do? Coding teaches logic, problem-solving and creativity. It’s not just about making the computer do something; it’s about understanding how to think in a structured way. When students learn to code, they learn how to ask the right questions and that skill is even more valuable now with AI tools.

Academic Summer: What can students expect from the Robotics and Coding Summer Camp in 2025?

Yonca Kurt: Students will be hands-on from day one. We focus  on project-based learning, which means they won’t just be sitting and listening – they’ll be building, coding and creating. We’ll use C for programming and they’ll learn to control real robots. But more than that, they’ll work in teams, brainstorm ideas and bring their own visions to life. It’s always amazing to see how students interpret a project differently; they use the same tools but the results are as diverse as their imaginations.

We won't simply teach them to control an LED. Instead, we'll say, "Let's create an LED show," or "Let’s make an interactive robot." The goal is for them to see immediate results – like moving a robotic arm or displaying messages on an LCD screen. This makes learning coding much more exciting and interactive!

Academic Summer: It sounds incredibly inspiring. Why do you think camps like this are important?

Yonca Kurt: Camps like these provide a safe space for young people to explore deep seated interests. In school, students often don’t have the time or resources to go beyond the basics. Here, they have two weeks to immerse themselves in robotics and coding, supported by mentors who are passionate about the subject. They will meet like-minded peers from around the world, share ideas and work on something tangible. The confidence they will gain from building a working robot or completing a project is something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

We also focus on fostering creativity. For example, when I teach how to use servo motors to make a robotic arm, each student will come up with a unique application. One might design a waving hand, another might create a robot that drums. It’s about giving them the tools and knowledge they need, then letting their imagination run free.

Academic Summer: What other skills will students develop during the camp?

Yonca Kurt: Besides coding, we'll talk a lot about design thinking – how to approach a problem creatively and solve it with technology. For example, I’ve developed projects where we use Arduinos to have different units communicate with each other. This kind of project encourages students to think beyond individual components and consider systems as a whole.

They'll also learn skills like soldering, which is an important part of building and working with electronics. The sense of accomplishment students feel after building something from scratch is incredible and it shows them that they are capable of far more than they initially believed.

Academic Summer: So, what advice do you have for young people who might feel intimidated by technology?

Yonca Kurt: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are how we learn. When I was younger, I struggled, but I kept going because I knew I wanted to understand. Technology can seem intimidating, but every big problem can be broken down into smaller, manageable steps. Find a teacher or a mentor who supports you, join a camp like ours and just start experimenting. The important thing is to begin.

Robotics brings coding to life. Imagine writing a line of code and immediately seeing a robotic arm move or an LED light up – that's the magic. It’s the difference between learning theory and truly experiencing the results of your effort. When students can see the impact of what they've built, they understand that they can create real change. It makes coding not only fun but meaningful.

Academic Summer: Finally, our camps are also about helping students improve their English through Content and Language Integrated Learning. How does the Robotics and Coding Camp encompass CLIL and why is this approach so important for young learners?

Yonca Kurt: CLIL is something I first experienced over ten years ago and it changed my perspective on teaching. It’s about learning a subject and a language at the same time and that’s exactly what we’re doing at the Robotics and Coding Camp. Students aren’t just learning how to code; they’re improving their English through hands-on, project-based learning. It’s immersive, it’s engaging and it’s powerful.

When students are tasked with explaining their projects and working together in English, they learn faster, gain confidence and develop both technical and communication skills. I believe CLIL brings out the best in students because it’s all about doing, experimenting and growing. That’s the kind of impact I want to make, and that’s why I’m so excited about this summer camp.”

We invite students to join Yonca and her team at our Robotics and Coding Camp at David Game College in London in 2025. In a world increasingly shaped by technology, learning how to code and understand robotics can open doors to endless opportunities. 

Parents, for more information read our article: Could your child be the next robotics and coding genius?

If you’d like your son or daughter to explore a future in technology, develop critical 21st-century skills, and have a summer they’ll never forget, enroll him or her in our Robotics and Coding summer camp! For more information or to secure your spot contact us today.

 

2024/10/21