Dutch health and safety practices are very different than those of many countries with more severe COVID-19 outbreaks since the country is not experiencing anywhere near the transmission and mortality rates that other countries, such as the U.S., are. On July 1st, based on information, advice and recommendations from the country's National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) which is closely tracking the situation, the Dutch government lifted its 'intelligent lockdown' and eased
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https://vimeo.com/408410161 JP van Seventer is passionate about all things related to online gaming. JP is Co-founder and Managing Director of Dutch Game Garden, a game incubator and business centre for small gaming companies and independent game designers located in Utrecht, the Netherlands. In this interview, JP talks about his own experience in game development. He also shares his thoughts on: the kind of people who thrive in the gaming industry and their knowledge, skills, characteristics and mindset
Read moreToday, NewTechKids kicked off a week of classes for kids ages 8-12 which will encourage students to think critically about how technology can be used to screen and monitor the Coronavirus and help people who contract it. We started with a class this afternoon at an Amsterdam primary school where we teach a weekly computer science program for kids ages 10-12. We began with students talking about the symptoms of the Coronavirus and ways to
Read moreBeing able to learn constantly and apply knowledge and skills throughout one's life will be the key to achieving success in the 21st century. It also reflects a mindset which needs to be nurtured from a young age, especially for future innovators. But how do you get to this point. Turns out that there are tried and true effective learning and studying techniques which are backed by science. Unfortunately, most people aren't using them. Which
Read moreStarting this week, NewTechKids is teaching new programs at schools in Amstelveen, a city just outside Amsterdam. We're teaching students at Amity International School Amsterdam and Kindercampus King. Amity is an English-language private school which opened in February 2018 and offers education for students ages 3-18. Students are multicultural, with students and teachers coming from all over the world. We were approached by one of its science teachers who was interesting in augmenting their current curriculum
Read moreIt's that time of the year. When students in group 8 in Dutch primary schools receive their definitive 'advies' on the type of high school they will attend and the type of secondary education they will pursue: pre-vocational, senior general or pre-university. This advice is based on a combination of their marks from groups 6-8, the results of standardized tests they take in group 8, and the advice of their group 8 teacher. In some
Read moreHow are school systems in the Netherlands dealing with teacher shortages, teacher burnout and the shrinking number of people choosing to become teachers? Some Dutch primary schools in Amsterdam are considering an emergency measure: shifting to a four-day teaching week. Why? Amsterdam has been hit particularly hard by teacher shortages. At the beginning of this school year which began in August 2019, the city was short 280 teachers. This shortage has now grown to almost
Read moreNewTechKids is pleased to announce that in 2020, we are expanding our line up of programs focused on teaching kids ages 7-12 about technological innovation. We've hired new teachers with different specializations in order to continue developing innovative ways to teach kids ages 4-12 about computer science, programming and design while helping them develop critical thinking about technology and its implications. Some of the big changes: We will introduce kids to basic, on-screen programming using the
Read moreWe’re crunching the numbers some more! So far, 60 people have registered for NewTechKids’ upcoming ‘kids and gaming’ seminar on Sunday, November 24 at the Amsterdam Public Library. Here’s a quick analysis of these parents, caregivers and teachers and the information they have provided, including about the gaming habits of their children and their attitudes towards gaming. There are still spaces available to attend NewTechKids’ seminar for parents, caregivers and teachers on ‘kids and gaming’.
Read moreYesterday, NewTechKids hosted its 'Kids and Gaming' seminar for parents, caregivers and teachers in Amsterdam. Attendees came together to explore the topic and stretch their thinking by hearing from professionals including game designers and parents as well as a psychologist, family counsellor, teacher and former gaming addict. Here are the key takeaways in terms of tips and advice: Deborah Carter, NewTechKids Deborah's main message was that gaming shouldn't be viewed in the context of 'good'
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