New year, new opportunity to broaden the scope of our technology education programs. While we can't announce the full details, we'll let you in on a secret. NewTechKids will be teaching a new digital literacy program to all classes at an Amsterdam primary school next year: groeps 1 to 8 (kids ages 4-12). Digital literacy is an important part of a solid primary school education. We love the definition of digital literacy given by Hiller Spires,
Read more
Nothing makes the NewTechKids team happier than showing the world what our students invent during our classes. This week, our classes for primary school students focused on space exploration, largely because the topic really ignites the imagination of kids. Plus, there's tons of great multimedia content to excite them: movies, video games, books, etc. We kept our class challenges pretty broad and provided a scenario that like Matt Damon in 'The Martian' movie, they have
Read more
With Big Tech and businesses increasingly targeting children in terms of advertising, marketing, sales, data mining and surveillance, NewTechKids encourages parents, caregivers and teachers to start thinking more critically about how technology impacts children and teens. We are one of the supporters of the Dutch Code for Children's Rights in the Netherlands. Drawn up by the University of Leiden and the Waag and commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Code outlines 10
Read more
Recently, the Washington Post published an interesting article titled 'This School Took Away Smartphones. The Kids Don’t Mind.' It was about Buxton School, a small boarding school in Massachusetts which has banned smartphones from campus. Teachers have also agreed not to use theirs. Everyone has been given a Light Phone, a minimalist phone which is only used for essential communication. So far, teachers say that students are more engaged in class and students say the ban
Read more
NewTechKids is pleased to be cooperating with Schuberg Philis, one of our generous supporters, on programming for its upcoming Family Day. The annual event for the company's colleagues (employees) and their families to thank them for their effort and time. This event will take place on Saturday, September 24th at its Schiphol-Rijk office. Under the theme 'Welcome back to the Future', the Family Day will feature a variety of workshops, tutorials, demonstrations and social activities.
Read more
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
Read more
NewTechKids is honoured to have been chosen to develop the agenda for the Erasmus+ sponsored program welcoming 50 Danish high school students to the Netherlands in early October. These students are studying business and retail at EUC Nordvest, a school which provides innovative vocational education in northern Denmark. During the 'Destination Amsterdam' visit, students (ages 16, 17 and 18) from EUC Nordvest, will learn how Dutch innovation and entrepreneurship, sustainability and culture are re-shaping the
Read more
Imagine loving your Mama so much that during primary school, you are already planning, plotting and preparing to help her overcome her disability. Everyday this past week, a woman in a wheelchair brought her daughter and son to NewTechKids summer bootcamp at the Amsterdam Public Library. The son was talented but the daughter was UBER-talented. She squealed with joy when she saw the LEGO Mindstorms kits we use whereas most of the kids looked bewildered. When
Read more
Mobile phones. The bane of parents around the world. Most parents end up handing kids their old iPhone or Galaxy. But herein may lay the problem. By giving kids what we are used to, we may dump kids into a world of too many choices, too much temptations, too many dangers and too many features before they've developed the mindset, digital literacy skills and willpower needed to use mobile phones responsibly. Here's a partial list
Read more
Yesterday, Deborah Carter, NewTechKids' Founder and Managing Director, had the chance to tell NewTechKids' story to people who work at Schuberg Philis (known as 'colleagues'). Schuberg Philis has been supporting and collaborating with NewTechKids since December 2021. Schuberg Philis colleagues are who we hope our students will be in the future: technologists as well as business developers, salespeople, tech recruiters, engineers, account managers and people who care deeply about kids and tech education. The event
Read more