New Tech Kids | computational thinking

2 Sep 2020

Zerus and Ona Book Series: Teaching Tech Literacy to Kids

Another great resource for teaching technology literacy to children is the 'Zerus and Ona: Adventures in the Binary World' book series developed by Miriam Tocino. Miriam is a software developer, coding teacher, illustrator and author based in Amsterdam. The inspiration for her book series came three years ago when she had her son and started thinking about how to introduce him to the world of computers. She uses characters called Zerus and Ona which are based on binary 0s and

2 Mar 2020

Kids Prototype Tech for Coronavirus Control

By NewTechKids

Today, NewTechKids kicked off a week of classes for kids ages 8-12 which will encourage students to think critically about how technology can be used to screen and monitor the Coronavirus and help people who contract it. We taught classes at an international private school and several Dutch primary schools for kids ages 8-12. We discussed some of the technology being used to combat the virus: thermal imaging, drones in China which issue warnings to people

16 May 2019

Today’s teaching experiences at Beatrix School in Haarlem

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids spent the day in beautiful Haarlem, teaching students at the Beatrixschool. Our challenge: teaching students in two classes about programming in the context of automation with LEGO Mindstorms robots. One class developed appliances aimed at reducing the workload of families while the other reimagined robots who could take over monotonous or dangerous farm work. While one-off classes aren't our preferences, these classes serve an important purpose. They allow us to teach kids who have

3 May 2019

Registration open: free NewTechKids program in Amsterdam Nieuw West

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is teaching a free-of-charge, 10-week computer science bootcamp at OBA Slotermeer in Amsterdam from May 6 - July 1, 2019. The bootcamp is open to kids ages 8-12 and will be taught in a combination of Dutch and English by a professional teacher with specialised computer science training. Every Monday from 15:30 - 17:30, kids will explore computer science through lively class discussions and team-based activities which involve designing, building and programming a series of

13 Apr 2019

New Computer Science/Maker Ed Summer Programs

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is super excited to announce two new 2019 summer bootcamps which will combine computer science and maker activities. The workshops will be taught in partnership with Maakplaats 021, the Maker education initiative of the Amsterdam Public Library, the largest public library in Europe. During the all-day bootcamps, kids ages 8-12 will enjoy hands-on activities related to creating tech prototypes and designing and producing physical objects in the Maker Lab. Bootcamp #1: July 15-19, 2019

20 Mar 2019

NewTechKids heading to the United Arab Emirates

By NewTechKids

Next month, NewTechKids will head to the United Arab Emirates to teach a week-long series of computer science workshops for primary school students. We'll be teaching kids ages 4-12 during the 2019 Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, an annual mega-event dedicated to learning, reading and discovery. Themes will include algorithms and algorithmic thinking, computer and programming logic, and rapid prototyping and best practises in the field of technology design. Students will come from a mix of

5 Mar 2019

Carol Yarbrough joins NewTechKids as advisor

By NewTechKids

Super excited to welcome Carol Yarbrough as NewTechKids' latest teacher advisor. A high school computer science teacher, Carol is currently Computer Science Content Director at A+ College Ready in Alabama. She is also a College Board consultant who organises professional development for AP teachers through workshops and AP Summer Institutes. Before all this, she taught at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham for 11 years. Carol graduated with a degree in Computational Mathematics

20 Nov 2018

New Advisor: Phil Rynearson, technology teacher

By NewTechKids

Super happy to announce our newest NewTechKids advisor: Phil Rynearson (aka Mr. Phil). Phil is a technology teacher in Early Childhood Education at the American School of The Hague in the Netherlands. He gained valuable experience as a classroom teacher for 17 years before devoting the last eight years to supporting students and teachers in finding authentic and empowering methods of integrating technology into school settings. He has worked in public schools in the United States

11 Jul 2018

Summer School: chance for kids to discover CS

By NewTechKids

While many North Americans are familiar with the concept of 'summer school' for primary school students, it's a foreign concept for many Europeans. For many European, summer means no school: only vacation, relaxation, time with family, and recreational activities for children. We're not arguing for or against summer school. Different strokes for different folks. But we'd like to present it in the context of continuous learning and the computer science summer school programs we'll be

9 Jul 2018

NewTechKids workshops during EF Tours Global Summit Tour

By NewTechKids

Today in Amsterdam, NewTechKids taught computer science workshops to high school students from across the U.S. The students are in Amsterdam as part of EF Tours' Global Summit Tour, an event during which students are immersed in the topic ' The Influence of Technology on Society'. We chose the theme of automation as a way to explore ways in which technology is transforming the way we live, work and interact with each other and the