16 apr 2020

Recommended Online Resource: Sesame Street

By NewTechKids

Sesame Street offers great online resources which provide learning activities for younger children. (Also a great resource for older, non-English speaking kids who want to learn English in a fun way.) Sesame Street has launched a new Web site called "Caring for Each Other" which provides songs, games, free eBooks, video, art, discussion topics, printable worksheets and more and features both Sesame Street characters and celebrities such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tracee Ellis Ross and Anne

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3 mrt 2020

Recommended Video Game and Apps for Kids: Matteo Rinaldi

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids discussed the pros and cons of video games and gaming with Matteo Rinaldi, who graduated from the University of Amsterdam with a Master's of Science, specializing in Communication Science, Persuasive and Entertainment Communication. One of his research areas focused on media and children's development. He wrote the blog post below based on his Masters research. It outlines his views on the benefits of gaming and his top recommendations for video games and gaming apps

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2 mrt 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 started with a class this afternoon at an Amsterdam primary school where we teach a weekly computer science program for kids ages 10-12. We began with students talking about the symptoms of the Coronavirus and ways to

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12 feb 2020

2020 February School Vacation Bootcamp: Lost in Space

By NewTechKids

During next week's school vacation (February 17-21), NewTechKids and Maakplaat021, the Amsterdam Public Library's Maker education initiative, will teach a computer science/maker camp for kids ages 8-12. We'll use the theme of technology in space to engage kids and make the potential of technology come to life. Spaces are still open. Register here. Under the theme "Lost in Space", kids will explore how computer science and programming work by designing, building and programming robots and

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26 jan 2020

Book Review: ‘Make it Stick: the Science of Successful Learning’

By NewTechKids

Being able to learn constantly and apply knowledge and skills throughout one's life will be the key to achieving success in the 21st century. It also reflects a mindset which needs to be nurtured from a young age, especially for future innovators. But how do you get to this point. Turns out that there are tried and true effective learning and studying techniques which are backed by science. Unfortunately, most people aren't using them. Which

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25 jan 2020

NewTechKids teaching in Amstelveen

By NewTechKids

Starting this week, NewTechKids is teaching new programs at schools in Amstelveen, a city just outside Amsterdam. We're teaching students at Amity International School Amsterdam and Kindercampus King. Amity is an English-language private school which opened in February 2018 and offers education for students ages 3-18. Students are multicultural, with students and teachers coming from all over the world. We were approached by one of its science teachers who was interesting in augmenting their current curriculum

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15 jan 2020

Computer Science at Metis Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam

By NewTechKids

It's that time of the year. When students in group 8 in Dutch primary schools receive their definitive 'advies' on the type of high school they will attend and the type of secondary education they will pursue: pre-vocational, senior general or pre-university. This advice is based on a combination of their marks from groups 6-8, the results of standardized tests they take in group 8, and the advice of their group 8 teacher. In some

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4 jan 2020

Possible 4-day teaching week in Amsterdam

By NewTechKids

How are school systems in the Netherlands dealing with teacher shortages, teacher burnout and the shrinking number of people choosing to become teachers? Some Dutch primary schools in Amsterdam are considering an emergency measure: shifting to a four-day teaching week. Why? Amsterdam has been hit particularly hard by teacher shortages. At the beginning of this school year which began in August 2019, the city was short 280 teachers. This shortage has now grown to almost

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29 dec 2019

Sharenting: think carefully!

By NewTechKids

We reached out to Leah Plunkett, author of the book "Sharenthood: why we should think before we talk about our kids online", and she had this advice for parents, caregivers and teachers engaged in social media activities. "Use a holiday card rule of thumb to decide whether, when, how, why, and with whom to sharent: if you would put the photo or news update into a hard copy letter, print and mail out hundreds of copies

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4 dec 2019

More Computer Science & Programming Bootcamps Coming in 2020

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is pleased to announce that in 2020, we are expanding our line up of programs focused on teaching kids ages 7-12 about technological innovation. We've hired new teachers with different specializations in order to continue developing innovative ways to teach kids ages 4-12 about computer science, programming and design while helping them develop critical thinking about technology and its implications. Some of the big changes: We will introduce kids to basic, on-screen programming using the

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