As the DIGITAL FIRST project continues to explore and reshape the way informatics is taught across Europe, a wide range of multimedia resources are 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 spark a much-needed dialogue about 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 classroom experiences.
The Podcast Series
The podcast series offers a platform for thought-provoking conversations with a diverse mix of guests, ranging from secondary school teachers and students to university researchers and policy advocates. Five episodes have already been published, while the final episode is now in its closing production phase. Here is a look at the most recently released conversations:
Episode 4: The Importance of Teaching and Learning Computer Science
In this episode, Dimitria Terzieva and Nadya Stankova from Secondary School “St. st. Cyril and Methodius” speak with different students. Together, they discuss how important teaching and learning computer science are for the requirements of today’s digital world. [Link]
Episode 5: Inclusive and Creative Informatics Learning through Minecraft Education
Hosted by the primary school “Toneta Čufarja Maribor” from Slovenia, this episode explores functional and inclusive learning in informatics through two classroom projects. They begin with a Minecraft Education lesson where students learn coding through building and collaboration, and continue with a digital storytelling project in Scratch, where code becomes a tool for creativity, choice, and expression. [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.
Video 2: Transnational Research on the Theory and Practice of Teaching and Learning Informatics
The video presents key research findings on the theory and practice of teaching informatics in primary and secondary schools across 10 EU countries. It seeks to answer the following questions: What do we learn/teach, how do we learn/teach it, and are we happy about it? [Link]
Video 3: Educational Robotics and Functional Informatics
This short film captures the core of the Digital First project, turning computing lessons into hands-on, real-world challenges. By learning through educational robotics, students experience coding not as abstract theory but as an engaging way to solve everyday tasks. [Link]
Video 4: AI & Ethics for Young Digital Citizens
In this video, we explore what artificial intelligence is, its benefits and risks, and how young people can use it in a responsible and ethical way. The video also looks at how Europe is working to regulate and supervise the use of AI to protect digital citizens. [Link]
Insightful Webinars for Knowledge Sharing
The Digital First webinar series aims to share project outcomes, including the current state of teaching informatics and classroom experiences, with a wider audience.
Webinar 3: From Theory to Practice: Rethinking Informatics Education through the Functionalist Approach
How can informatics education go beyond coding and foster creativity, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving? In this webinar, we will introduce the functionalist perspective on informatics education. Rather than limiting the focus to technical competences, this approach highlights the multiple roles digital technology plays in everyday life. [Link]
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.
