New Tech Kids | the Netherlands

9 Jan 2024

Hacker Training as a hook to introduce digital literacy in primary school

There's something about hackers which makes kids sit up and become interested in learning about technology. Since mid-November, NewTechKids has been teaching a digital literacy course for all group 5 and 6 students (approx. ages 9-10) at Wereldwijs Primary School in Amsterdam Southeast. Under the theme of hacker training, students are learning about digital literacy and acquiring important critical thinking, problem-solving and tech skills. Our customized curriculum covers topics such as online safety and digital

1 Sep 2023

Dutch government advises high schools to ban mobile phones during school day

By NewTechKids

On July 4, 2023, something momentous happened in the Netherlands. The Dutch Minister of Education Robbert Dijkgraaf issued an urgent guideline calling for the banning of all mobile telephones from Dutch high schools as of January 2024. It's just a guideline and not enforceable but it's a big deal that the Dutch government has taken this step. Individual high schools are expected to develop their own specific terms related to the ban based on input from

10 Jul 2023

‘Critical Making’: Nurturing Responsible Tech Innovators in High School

By NewTechKids

How is the Netherlands maintaining its innovation edge? By developing and prototyping new creative and design processes. NewTechKids is involved in one such research project aimed at mobilizing the creative industries to help transform high school students into tech inventors who make products and services which have a positive impact on society. The research seeks to answer the question "How can critical making contribute to technological citizenship and responsible innovation?" High School Students & The

17 Jun 2023

‘Future of farming’ workshop for Atlas Workshops

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is pleased to announce that we collaborated with Atlas Workshops, a company which organizes international learning experiences around the world for students and educators and which partners with creative organizations around the world. On Saturday, June 17, we hosted a group of American high school students and teachers in Amsterdam and taught a robotics and coding workshop focused on 'the future of farming and tech'. The Dutch backdrop makes a lot of sense. Despite

18 Jan 2023

NewTechKids Teaching Digital Literacy at Wereldwijs Primary School

By NewTechKids

Yesterday, NewTechKids kicked off a very exciting project: teaching digital literacy to all 475 students at the Wereldwijs Primary School in Amsterdam southeast. We'll be teaching students in groups 1 - 8. Older students will be taught in a combination of Dutch and English since the language of technology is English. Wereldwijs has been designated an 'Excellent School 2022-2025' for primary education by the Dutch Ministry of Education in 2019 and 2022. Led by a

13 Jan 2023

Helping Kids Develop into Empowered Digital Citizens

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is excited to join an expert research group which is exploring how critical making (maker education tied to the ability to evaluate the consequences, implications and ethics of technology) encourages students to be active and informed digital citizens. The project is being spearheaded by Waag, a Dutch futurelab which critically examines technology, develops technological and social design skills, and encourages social innovation, in partnership with the Rathenau Institute, a Dutch research institute which researches

14 Sep 2022

Fall 2022: Science & Tech Activities in the Netherlands

By NewTechKids

No time like the present to start encouraging your child(ren)'s interest in science and technology. Luckily, several great events are taking place in the Netherlands. Night of Discoveries: Leiden, September 17, 2022 This special night will feature "performances, exhibitions, debates, workshops, and inspiring lectures by young creators" at different venues in Leiden. Visit a mobile planetarium, an Animaltroniek installation of transparent technology, 3D models of human tissue and disease and more. The Night of Discoveries

30 Mar 2022

Equal Opportunity through Tech Education

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids has wrapped up our computer science and robotics bootcamp for high-potential teens from Amsterdam southeast, a low-income, largely immigrant community. According to one of our teachers, it was "one of the best classes" he's taught over his seven year career at NewTechKids. The magic ingredient? The kids themselves. Every Sunday, these kids rode the subway for 25 minutes to the Library, often accompanied by their parents and group mentor. Many came early and they

8 Sep 2021

NewTechKids Collaborating with IT Company Schuberg Philis

By NewTechKids

Dutch IT Company Supporting Development of Future Technologists NewTechKids is pleased to announce that Schuberg Philis, a leading IT company headquartered in Amsterdam, has decided to support our technology education activities. Schuberg Philis' support will include a financial donation which will allow us to extend our offerings to more children, including from low-income communities, and to develop new curriculum aimed at engaging both girls and boys with technology, computer science, programming and robotics in primary

7 Jun 2021

Summer camps vs. summer schools

By NewTechKids

The concept of "summer school" is foreign to many Europeans. Many think that kids should relax, have fun and take a complete break from school rather than continuing to study. European national summer school holidays tend to be shorter than those in North America which can last between 2-3 months. In The Netherlands for instance, the school summer vacation lasts six weeks because school holidays are distributed throughout the year. There's a big difference between