New Tech Kids | coding

13 feb 2018

Reflections on IPON 2018

Last week, I had the privilege of giving one of the keynote talks at IPON 2018. IPON is the Netherlands’ leading conference/trade show devoted to innovation in education and ICT applications and services. The event showcases teaching methods, learning materials and tools, hardware and software. During my talk, I renewed my call for computer science to become a mandatory subject, starting in primary school and continuing through secondary school. Here are some of my thoughts

13 jan 2018

Tips for Raising Successful Technologists: evaluating schools

By NewTechKids

Primary schools are playing an increasingly important role in providing students with computer science and technological literacy education and computational thinking skills as part of a solid 21st century skills and education strategy. NewTechKids has been visiting a variety of primary schools in the Netherlands and interviewing principals and teachers in advance of our latest teacher training program which begins on Wednesday, January 17, 2018. Here are some tips for parents which will help you

10 jan 2018

NewTechKids and American School of the Hague collaborating

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is collaborating with the American School of the Hague (ASH) to introduce computer science, technological literacy and computational thinking to students in its primary school division. Working closely with a team of ASH teachers, NewTechKids will help the school map key learning objectives and provide teacher training focused on computer science theory, pedagogy, teaching approaches, classroom management and educational tool selection. We will also assist teachers with the development of new lessons, some focused

6 dec 2017

Tips for Raising Successful Technologists: holiday gifts

By NewTechKids

For some, it's the most wonderful time of the year. For parents, the holidays are the ideal time to encourage children to become interested in technology, computer science and programming. NewTechKids has compiled this 2017 Holiday Gift Guide, a list of Web sites which offer recommendations on toys and books related to computer science, programming and STEM for toddlers and primary school-aged children. We've also added a section on experiences, things you can do with

2 nov 2017

First NewTechKids Program with Maakplaats 021

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is excited to announce our first collaboration with Maakplaats 021, the Amsterdam Municipal Library's maker space initiative: a 10-week computer science bootcamp for kids ages 8-12 which will take place in the Maakplaats 021 Reigersbos location in Amsterdam Southeast. Set to begin in January 2018, the bootcamp will be for kids ages 8-12 and provide an introduction to computer science, programming and computational thinking. Our partnership with the Library is strategic and we'll use

4 sep 2017

5 Tips: How to raise successful technologists

By NewTechKids

This week, primary school children in Amsterdam head back to school. Like so many previous academic years, most of them will not have any computer science or computational thinking lessons as part of formal school curricula. As long as education systems here in the Netherlands and around the world don't integrate these, we urge parents to take matters into their own hands. Intervening early will ensure that children acquire 21st century skills and prepare them

4 sep 2017

Bring NewTechKids to your school in Amsterdam

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids works with primary schools in the Amsterdam area to help introduce computational thinking and computer science programs as part of formal school curriculum. Our programs integrate pedagogy, didactics, teaching approaches and classroom management and are based on the curriculum, lesson plans and teaching materials that we've developed, tested and taught over the last three years. Below are some of the schools where we've taught: Leonardo da Vinci School, Amsterdam NewTechKids teaches computer science programs

3 sep 2017

Fall 2017 Activities

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is pleased to announce its Fall 2017 line up of activities. We have spent the summer developing and testing new approaches to computer science education in partnership with our non-profit foundation, Stichting NewTechKids. During two, brand-new bootcamps, we taught computer science concepts along with a stronger focus on technological literacy. This took the form of presenting technology case studies and concepts for new technology and leading in-depth class discussions on the implications of technology

20 jun 2017

NewTechKids at Codestarter Event

By NewTechKids

For the third year in a row, NewTechKids will give workshops at Codestarter, Science Center NEMO's annual event focused on encouraging children ages 8 - 11 to learn how to program. Codestarter is a free event which takes place on Saturday, July 1st. Four rounds of workshops will take place from 10:00 - 15:30. NewTechKids will be giving our popular no tech, 'Intro to Coding' which introduces young children to computer science concepts such as commands,

13 mei 2017

NewTechKids Returns to United Arab Emirates

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids has recently returned from the United Arab Emirates where our teachers (and one child assistant) taught computer science bootcamps during the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (April 19-29, 2017). Everyday, we taught children ages 7-12 about systems thinking (computers, their main parts and how these parts work together) and technology design (function, requirements and user interface). The children who attended were very enthusiastic and engaged. The United Arab Emirates is a fascinating country, with innovation and technology everywhere, from