New Tech Kids | coding

4 Sep 2017

5 Tips: How to raise successful technologists

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

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,

16 May 2017

The Case for Specialist Computer Science Teachers

By NewTechKids

In our quest to introduce computer science and technological literacy education in primary school, we often hear the same excuse as to why this is difficult to impossible: teachers already have enough on their plate. Introducing a new subject will overwhelm them, causing their overall teaching to decline in quality. So many countries find themselves in the same position: we know that we need to prepare children to function in a world filled with technology

13 May 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

8 Feb 2017

Computational Thinking in EU School Curricula

By NewTechKids

In December 2016, the European Union published the report “Developing Computational Thinking in Compulsory Education: Implications for policy and practice”. Click here for a definition of computational thinking and how it helps students solve problems, understand the world around them and become inventors. The report is useful to compare the EU's action to other places such as the United States which launched the 'Computer Science for All' initiative which will bring computer science education to all students in America, beginning in primary school.

7 Feb 2017

From Coding to Computational Thinking

By NewTechKids

We hear a lot of reasons why parents register their children for our computer science bootcamps. These range from: - my kid knows how to use a computer and smartphone but they should learn how technology works - my kid wants to learn to code - I want to boost my kids’ academic performance - I work in technology and I realise the importance of having some exposure to computer science - I need a way

NewTechKids in United Arab Emirates

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids recently taught computer science workshops to children in the United Arab Emirates during the Sharjah International Book Fair (November 2 - 12, 2016). The Book Fair is one of the largest in the Middle East, with thousands of participants including children from local and private schools. It was an honour to be selected as the only company providing technology-themed workshops covering topics such as algorithmic thinking, programming, binary systems, and design and rapid prototyping. (We wondered why

15 Oct 2016

NewTechKids joins ‘Coding for Amsterdam’ Project

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is one of the partners chosen for the City of Amsterdam’s ‘Coding for Amsterdam’ project which will bring coding lessons to students in groups seven and eight in Amsterdam primary schools. From September – December 2016, NewTechKids is teaching unplugged coding lessons (involving no computers or technology) at Dutch and international schools. The project’s goal is to reach students in 200 schools. On October 28th, NewTechKids will teach a special ‘Coding for Amsterdam’ lesson

24 Aug 2016

NewTechKids at Uitmarkt 2016

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is proud to be collaborating with Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (the Amsterdam Municipal Library) to give workshops during Uitmarkt 2016. We'll be giving our 'intro to coding' workshops during the Uitmarkt in Amsterdam this weekend which takes place on Museumplain. Kids will design a robot head out of a cardboard box and then learn how to 'code' themselves. In the process, they'll learn about coding, algorithms and automation. On Saturday, August 27 and Sunday, August 28th from 12:00 - 17:00,