New Tech Kids | Amsterdam

10 Oct 2024

Internet Access in Class is Not a Good Idea for Some Kids

This past week, NewTechKids taught a class about interactivity. Students created interactive systems using the Makey Makey learning tool. This meant that the students had Internet access and had to navigate to Makey Makey's Web site to access the coding apps. Unfortunately, one student figured out a way to play games without coding the Makey Makey microcomputer. We observed a physical shift in him during which he went from being immersed in the Makey Makey

27 Aug 2024

Video Games as theme of new digital literacy programs

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is returning to Wereldwijs primary school in Amsterdam southeast for the third year in a row. We'll be teaching digital literacy programs to all classes in the entire school over the 2024-2025 school year. We'll be teaching an 'Intro to Technology and Responsible Usage' to the youngest students which covers topics such as online safety, responsible usage, being creative with tech (not only passive consumption) and coding. Our teaching team is testing the limits

29 Jun 2024

Montessori School Students Experience NewTechKids Workshop

By NewTechKids

If it were up to students at the 7e Montessori School in Amsterdam, robot manufacturers and AI engineers would be in the hot seat if the robots they used to produce food made people sick. On June 28th, NewTechKids taught a special robotics and coding and robotics workshop to help celebrate the end of the school year. Students ages 9-12 discussed the key role that the Netherlands plays in global food production and then designed, built

7 Feb 2024

Teaching Kids about their Digital Footprints

By NewTechKids

A large part of NewTechKids' digital literacy programs focus on helping kids understand how to use the Internet and social wisely: staying safe online, only sharing appropriate information, protecting their privacy, knowing what to do when uncomfortable scenarios arise. A few weeks back, we started the third block in a series of programs for all classes at an Amsterdam primary school. This time around, we are teaching five classes in both group 3 (approx. ages

1 Mar 2024

Teaching new Dutch-Moroccan language bootcamp

By NewTechKids

A month ago, NewTechKids received a phone call out of the blue from one of the founders of the Drarija Taalclub, an organization dedicated to providing after-school activities for Moroccan children in Amsterdam West. Operated out of MAQAM, a Moroccan cultural centre in Amsterdam New West, the club's goal is to offer activities such as cooking, mathematics and singing in the Moroccan language to instil cultural pride and connect Dutch-born kids with the culture of

9 Jan 2024

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

By NewTechKids

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

12 Jan 2024

Early 2024 Workshops and Bootcamps

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is excited to start our next batch of workshops and bootcamps in early 2024. We're teaching workshops and bootcamps for kids ages 7-9 at the Amsterdam Public Library's Roelof Hartplein branch in Amsterdam Zuid. These introductory camps are ideal for kids who like LEGO but have never done coding or robotics before. The bootcamps for kids ages 8-12 taught at the Amsterdam Public Library near Centraal Station (OBA Centraal) are ideal for older children

1 Sep 2023

Starting 2nd year of teaching digital literacy in primary school

By NewTechKids

Next week, NewTechKids will begin our second year of teaching digital literacy programs at Wereldwijs primary school in Amsterdam Southeast. We learned a lot from teaching all 650 students in groups 1-8 (ages 4-12 on average). We taught the youngest students in Dutch and the older students in a combination of Dutch and English. Here are some of our takeaways: Our youngest students are using apps which should not be legally available to them. Students

1 Sep 2023

NewTechKids Teaching Digital Literacy Workshop for Primary School Teachers

By NewTechKids

Digital literacy is not simply 'nice to have' in 2023. It is a fundamental skill that all primary school students need to develop in order to enhance their learning and function in the world around them. NewTechKids is happy to be sharing our knowledge and experience about teaching digital literacy during a free workshop for primary school teachers during the Mokum Maakcoalitie's Maaksymposium on November 14th in Amsterdam. During this hands-on workshop, NewTechKids will give

15 Jul 2023

Heavily subsidized spots for low-income kids this summer

By NewTechKids

Due to generous donations from our donors, NewTechKids is able to offer more kids from low-income families heavily-subsidized spots in our summer bootcamps. Already this year, NewTechKids has taught more than 600 kids from low-income families and communities and we're happy to continue this outreach through our subsidy program. We've partnered with teachers, schools, the Amsterdam Public Library and the content moderators of popular social media pages for kids in Amsterdam to spread the word.