More than ever, children need to understand how technology works and how to innovate to be prepared for our world of constant technological development.
To help ensure that this happens in Amsterdam, NewTechKids is partnering with the OBA (the Amsterdam Municipal Library) and Maakplaats 021 to offer a range of computer science and computational thinking programs for primary school students and their teachers.
Maakplaats 021 was initiated by OBA, Waag Society, Pakhuis de Zwijger and Hogeschool van Amsterdam to create library makerspaces as a network of creative learning spaces that give local community members the ability to create, hack, and make their future.
NewTechKids will organize the following activities in partnership with OBA/Maakplaats 021 at some of OBA’s 26 library branches :
– after-school and holiday computer science bootcamps for children which are developed and taught by NewTechKids
– a special teacher training program for Dutch and international primary school teachers interested in learning how to teach computer science and computational thinking in the context of 21st century skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, communication and creativity
Working together, our ultimate goals are to help children understand technology and how it works while giving them maker education and tools to re-imagine and re-design the world around them.