In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, primary and secondary schools across Europe must constantly keep themselves updated to prepare students for a digital future. Recognising this need, Slovenia has embarked on a transformative journey through the DIGITAL FIRST project, uniting the two primary schools, a university, and the Ministry of Education in a collaborative effort to integrate computer science and digital competencies into the educational system.
In this week’s article, you will get to know more closely the Slovenian partners of our project: Primary Schools Bratov Polančičev and Toneta Čufarja from Maribor, the Faculty of Education at the University of Ljubljana, and the Ministry of Education Slovenia, as well as how they aim to work together for offering a modern, inclusive, and technologically adept learning environment for Slovenian students through their involvement in the DIGITAL FIRST project.
Primary School Bratov Polančičev Maribor
The Primary School Bratov Polančičev Maribor is a medium-sized school with around 550 students in Slovenia’s second-largest city. The school is near the city park, just a few steps from the city centre. The school is known for its high-quality teaching, professional staff and a rich offer of extracurricular programs. Parents and students appreciate the school’s focus on cultural and sporting activities as well as the numerous extraordinary excursions and camps.
The school has a long tradition of developing digital and scientific/technical skills among teachers and students as it aims for “Satisfied and successful teachers, students and parents in a modern, recognizable school that is open to ideas, knowledge and contemporary technologies.” Over the past 20 years, the school has participated in numerous development projects in this area (Development of scientific skills, eSchools, Secure, eSchool Bag, Education as a strategic method against illegal internet use, Chain Reaction, ATS2020, Innovative Learning Environments – Innovative Pedagogy 1:1, Digital Schools Award, Digital Teacher, Innovative Pedagogy 5.0).
This year, the school has completely transformed the existing computer room into a modern STEM classroom in which the computer is no longer the focus. In the STEM classroom, students will strengthen their digital competencies and soft skills through interdisciplinary connections and the effective use of modern technologies.
As the Slovenian elementary school curriculum does not currently include a separate subject for computer science, these topics are integrated into some regular subjects. to the school has the ambition to transform the teaching of basic computer science and information technology from a constructivist approach (how tools and machines are built and how they work) to a functionalist approach (what role they play in society, in communication and for the individual).
The DIGITAL FIRST project will support the Primary School Bratov Polančičev Maribor to make this transition together with other schools that have a similar vision and with the guidance of numerous experts from all participating countries.
Primary School of Toneta Čufarja Maribor
The Primary School of Toneta Čufarja Maribor has a 120-year tradition of education and teaching. The school is attended by students from 5 to 15 years of age.
The school prioritizes a stimulating learning environment and quality education, with an emphasis on the development of responsibility and equal opportunities, the enrichment of language and digital competences, environmental sustainability, multiculturalism, European integration, and education for common cultural and civilizational values.
Teaching computer science and informatics, as well as the knowledge encompassed by this field, is a key topic that needs to be addressed in Slovenia because schools do not have a regular subject systematically developing computer science and informatics knowledge. Thus, schools and teachers face the challenge of how to offer students knowledge that will enable them not only to be users of digital devices and services but also creators and innovators.
The involvement of Slovenian schools in the DIGITAL FIRST project will contribute to their development by improving the quality of education and empowering educators, teachers, and children with digital competencies and fundamental computer science knowledge. Developing computational thinking is crucial for preparing young people for the future, and this project provides an opportunity to create an innovative and encouraging learning environment where both technical and critical thinking skills will be nurtured.
The Primary School of Toneta Čufarja Maribor explores some ICT knowledge within the subject “Technology” with the use of microcontrollers like Micro: bit to assemble electrical circuits and write or modify simple programs that can interact with the physical world. This helps students to understand basic programming concepts.
The school has also experimented with integrating ICT knowledge into physics through a pilot project. wean enthusiastic group of students used Micro: bit as a measuring device – essentially creating an entire measurement system to observe heat transfer and study friction. The insights from this project provide insights for an innovative approach to teaching ICT.
In this context, the school considers the functional approach to teaching and interdisciplinary connections: Currently, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) offers a suitable opportunity for acquiring essential knowledge.
This approach includes problem-solving skills, logical thinking, algorithmic reasoning, and creative problem-solving that help students gain important skills for the future.
University of Ljubljana – Faculty of Education
The Faculty of Education at the University of Ljubljana trains various types of professionals, from preschool teachers and primary school teachers (who also have the option to specialize in early English language teaching) to educators (who are experts in teaching two subject areas in elementary and some secondary schools): One of these subject areas is Computer Science. The advantage for graduates of the Faculty of Education lies in their competence in at least two fields, which enhances their employability and aligns with the needs of educational practice.
The Faculty of Education at the University of Ljubljana also trains specialists in inclusive education and the education of children and adolescents with special needs, including behavioural, social, and learning difficulties, as well as various disabilities. The faculty offers numerous professional development programs (e.g., training programs for early English language teaching, third subject specialization, and implementing socio-pedagogical and special pedagogical support for children with special needs). These programs are designed to address practical needs.
Additionally, the Faculty of Education actively participates in research and artistic projects with researchers publishing their work in internationally recognized monographs and journals.
In Slovenia, computer science and informatics are not part of the mandatory elementary school curriculum. Within the compulsory part of the high school curriculum, there is only one mandatory subject Informatics— which is taught in the first year, with an open curriculum.
Recognizing the importance of computer science knowledge for society, the Faculty Education became a part of the DIGITAL FIRST project to gain insights into effective teaching practices abroad, to develop a new teaching model that can be used for teacher training in Slovenia and to work together for other partners for equipping young people with the computer science knowledge through innovative teaching methods.
Ministry of Education Slovenia
The Ministry of Education in Slovenia supports the comprehensive development of young people from kindergarten to higher education to help them develop their skills and actively shape their future. The Ministry strives for equal participation for all in an accessible and flexible education system geared towards the future with new teaching methods that help individuals develop into responsible and independent members of the community.
For over 10 years, the Ministry has been a reliable partner in European education policy development projects, contributing to the future of the European Education Area. The Ministry participates in expert groups and exchanges best practices with other countries, opening up new strategic cooperation opportunities and focusing on digital education through the Digital Education Service. The aim is to combine digital and sustainable aspects into a “digitalisation-ready” education and to equip educators and young people with future-proof skills.
By being a part of the DIGITAL FIRST project, the Ministry will be collaborating with leading organisations across Europe with a common goal: to prepare young people for a future in which they are digitally literate and competent.
