As the DIGITAL FIRST project continues to explore and reshape the way informatics is taught across Europe, a wide range of multimedia resources is being produced to engage educators, students, parents, and policymakers alike. Through an inspiring mix of podcast episodes, educational videos, and informative webinars, the project aims to open up a much-needed dialogue around the importance of digital competence and computational thinking in today’s world.
These multimedia productions are not just complementary tools—they are core components of the project’s outreach and dissemination strategy, designed to spark conversations, share best practices, and showcase real experiences from the classroom.
The Podcast Series
The podcast series offers a platform for thought-provoking conversations with a diverse mix of guests—from secondary school teachers and students to university researchers and policy advocates. A total of six episodes are planned, with the first three already available and the fourth currently in production.
Episode 1: Teaching Informatics and Advocating for a New Education in Europe
Hosted by Petra Bevek from Slovenia’s Ministry of Education, this episode features Uroš Ocepek, an awarded computer science teacher, and Eugenia Casariego Artola from European Schoolnet. Together, they reflect on how teaching informatics can drive educational innovation across Europe. [Link]
Episode 2: Informatics Education Through the Eyes of Students
Recorded in Italian and subtitled in English, this episode flips the narrative by giving students from the Industrial Technical Institute Ferraris Pancaldo the opportunity to share their experiences and expectations around informatics education. [Link]
Episode 3: From Digital Resources to Artificial Intelligence
This episode, hosted by Mário Lima from CFAE-PVVC, brings together academic and publishing experts to examine how digital tools and AI can enrich teaching practices and better prepare students for a tech-driven society. [Link]
Educational Video Series
The DIGITAL FIRST video series offers educational insights into the importance of informatics education and explores innovative approaches to adapt it to the needs of today’s children – the digital natives.
Video 1: What is Informatics Education?
The first video welcomes viewers into the world of informatics, highlighting its growing relevance, its role in school curricula, and how it supports the development of digital skills. Produced by T-HAP, the video sets the tone for the rest of the series. [Link]
Insightful Webinars for Knowledge Sharing
To complement its on-the-ground activities, DIGITAL FIRST has launched a webinar series aimed at sharing project outcomes, including the current state of teaching informatics and classroom experiences with a wider audience.
Webinar 1: Digital Tech as the First Language
This session features findings from the project’s transnational research, covering how informatics is taught across ten EU countries. Speakers from Vilnius University present on the content, teaching practices, and perceptions of students and parents, offering a well-rounded view of the current landscape. [Link]
Webinar 2: Dialogue Clubs – A Sustainable Dialogue on Informatics Education
Drawing inspiration from the evolution of foreign language instruction, the project promotes a functionalist approach to informatics, where digital competence is seen as a horizontal skill vital for personal, educational, and professional life. Based on reflections from the project’s Dialogue Clubs, the discussion includes practical insights from educators across Europe and highlights the importance of supporting teachers in adopting future-ready practices. [Link]
These multimedia resources reflect the diverse contributions within the DIGITAL FIRST project and offer a rich, engaging way to share its mission. Whether you’re a teacher, policymaker, or simply interested in the future of education, there’s something here for you. Stay tuned for more podcast episodes, videos, and webinars as the project unfolds.
