New Tech Kids | primary school

8 Feb 2017

Computational Thinking in EU School Curricula

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

New Teaching Tools: Arduino and Micro:bits

By NewTechKids

This December, NewTechKids added Arduino as a new teaching tool during our 'Discover Computer Science' bootcamp for 10-12 year olds. Kids received multiple lessons as an introduction to Arduino. With its open source platform and active community of developers, Arduino is a great teaching tool. Kids received a basic introduction to programming in JavaScript but that's not the main reason we are teaching Arduino. Arduino offers another learning environment where kids can identify and creatively apply the fundamental computer

15 Nov 2016

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

15 Oct 2016

Watch out, Silicon Valley. South Korea is coming!

By NewTechKids

In early October, I was in South Korea to speak at the International Symposium of Science Museums. My subject: NewTechKids and our approach to teaching computer science and computational thinking skills to primary school-aged children. I joined representatives from some of the world's leading science museums, including the Smithsonian, the Getty Museum, Science Center Singapore and the National Science Museum of Korea. We discussed the social responsibility of science museums and the important role that

14 Oct 2016

New 21st Century Skills Club

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is pleased to announce that we have established a new 21st Century Skills Club at Nelson Mandela School in Amsterdam East. We're teaching computer science to kids in the school's AMOS UnIQ program for gifted children for the 2016-2017 school year. Our Club will cover computational thinking, algorithmic thinking, programming, systems thinking and technological literacy. We look forward to exposing kids to a new way of thinking that they can use to understand how and why technology works and to start

29 Aug 2016

New Lessons on Smart Energy Systems

By NewTechKids

Last week, we engaged our students in some serious challenge-based learning in order to understand systems thinking and how computers are embedded into all kinds of systems. We challenged the 7-12 year old kids in our 'Computers and How They Work' summer bootcamp to work in teams to design and program a smart energy system which could respond to different temperatures and activate a heating system when the room temperature dropped. In the process, they learned about conditionals and if-else statements.

16 Jul 2016

Tech Education: continuing from Primary to Middle School

By NewTechKids

There are few things as wonderful as impacting a child's interests and learning. Even in a small way. This week, NewTechKids received some great news. One of our very first students was accepted into the Metis Montessori Lyceum, the first high school in the Netherlands to offer an intensive programming stream for 12 year olds starting in Fall 2016. Students in this stream will receive five hours of schooling in programming, robotics, computers, game and

13 Jul 2016

Teaching New 21st Century Skills Clubs

By NewTechKids

In September 2016, NewTechKids will begin teaching a new, after-school club format called the 21st Century Skills Club. Two Clubs will launch in Amsterdam South East and Amsterdam New West. The format was developed by Stichting NewTechKids, a non-profit foundation which develops, tests and improves computer science curriculum, lessons and teaching materials and trains primary school teachers. NewTechKids is teaching the Clubs on behalf of Stichting NewTechKids. The Club will feature weekly, three-hour lessons. During the Club, primary school-aged children will learn about computer science