New Tech Kids | technology

23 Sep 2015

Slowing down the learning process for tech ed

Parents are often shocked when we tell them that during our programs, we teach core technology, programming and computer science concepts through pen and paper exercises, role-play games, and design and prototyping activities using simple materials such as cardboard boxes and blocks. Others wonder why, in an era of computers and gadgets, apps and programming languages made especially for kids, we teach many no tech lessons. We’ve developed our pedagogy and teaching approaches based on the

22 Sep 2015

EU Code Week 2015: Training the Trainers

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids achieved a major milestone last week. Over the course of five training sessions, we trained 75 primary school teachers in Amsterdam and Delft to teach our 'intro to coding' lesson to students aged 4-8 during EU Code Week 2015 (October 10-18). Our lesson doesn't focus on technical coding skills. Instead, we focus on exposing young kids to concepts such as coding, commands, algorithms and automation. It was so encouraging to see teachers from Dutch and international

17 Sep 2015

NewTechKids: a research platform

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is happy to announce an academic research partnership with Leiden University. Under the partnership, NewTechKids' programs will become a platform where quality control research will be conducted on our pedagogy, teaching approaches, curricula and lesson plans. Tessa Slim, a Master's of Education student at the University, will conduct the research to assess whether NewTechKids' technology, programming and computer science programs for primary school aged children help kids improve their higher order thinking and problem-solving

25 Aug 2015

EU Code Week 2015 for teachers

By NewTechKids

(Informatie in het Nederlands.) EU Code Week 2015 will take place from 10-18 October. Code Week was launched as a way to encourage children and adults in the European Union to discover programming and learn to code. NewTechKids is pleased to partner with TomTom, a Dutch technology company, to provide primary school teachers in Amsterdam and other locations in the Netherlands with special training to teach an ‘Introduction to Coding’ lesson to children in groups

19 Aug 2015

Technology education by age

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids sees technology education as a means to help kids develop 21st century skills: problem-solving, critical thinking, logic, pattern recognition, creativity and communication. It doesn't matter if children don't create the perfect code, design a popular app or create a beautiful 3D printed product. We are happy as long as it's obvious they are thinking, experimenting, designing, failing, collaborating and learning. Most kids don't receive any technology, programming or computer science education in primary school. This is

18 Aug 2015

NewTechKids @ Apple Amsterdam

By NewTechKids

Super-psyched to announce that NewTechKids’ founders, Deborah Carter and Marja-Ilona Koski, will give a talk on the future of tech education as part of the ‘ADC Talks’ global series. The talk will be hosted on Thursday, August 27th at 19:00 at Amsterdam's Apple store at the Leidseplein. Attendance is free. Read more. Deborah and Marja-Ilona will talk about why technology education is as important as reading and math and why kids should start learning about technology,

2 Jul 2015

NewTechKids @ NEMO Codestarter

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids was pleased to be invited by NEMO to participate in its inaugural Codestarter event on May 28th. In case you haven't heard, Google Netherlands donated $1 million to Science Center NEMO in Amsterdam to stimulate interest in coding, technology and computer science amongst primary school children. NewTechKids' teachers taught two of our popular 'Robot Boogie' workshops at the event. Rather than focusing on hardcore programming or more technical activities, the workshops exposed kids to a structured

14 Jun 2015

NewTechKid@Hand’s On Conference

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is pleased to announce that Deborah Carter, its co-founder, will be speaking at the Hands On! Conference which takes place in Amsterdam from October 13 - 16th. More than 300 museum professionals from around the world will gather to discuss and be inspired by the latest developments in children’s education in museums. Under the theme ‘Touch and Learn’, participants will explore how museums in the 21st century can touch the hearts and minds of

9 Jun 2015

NewTechKids @ Nemo

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is pleased to be joining NEMO's inaugural Codestarter event which takes place on June 27th from 10:00 - 16:00 at NEMO in Amsterdam. The Codestarter event is all about programming and will feature workshops, lectures and activities which cover everything from explaining how a computer works to programming a 3D printer and coding a robot. The target audience is children aged 8 - 12 years. The big plus: it's free! NewTechKids will organize two workshops (held in

5 Jun 2015

NewTechKids @ Leonardo da Vincischool

By NewTechKids

NewTechKids is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Leonardo da Vincischool, a primary school in Amsterdam, to deliver technology and programming courses to its students. The programs will begin in mid-August after the summer holidays. Groups 1 and 2: NewTechKids Robot Boogie Bootcamp Students will be introduced to concepts such as computational thinking, design, commands and systems thinking. They'll learn the basics behind programming and automation through crafts, games, and physical activity. Taught