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Celebrating Innovation, Collaboration and the Future of Digital Education From being recognised at Croatia’s Project EXPO 2026 to bringing educators and policymakers together in Brussels, DIGITAL FIRST is celebrating an important milestone in its journey…
As the Digital First project approaches its conclusion, its core idea remains unchanged. Our experience suggests that functional learning can be a meaningful and effective approach to computer science education. It is not tied to…
Young people today grow up surrounded by digital technologies. They use smartphones, social media, online platforms and artificial intelligence in their everyday lives. However, being a digital native does not automatically mean knowing how technology…
The European “Digital First” project is a strategically significant initiative within the framework of continental educational policy, aimed at redefining the teaching of digital skills and computer science in primary and secondary schools. In Italy,…
To conduct a comparative analysis of the results from the Italian pilot, it is essential to provide a general overview of the pilot itself. The experimentation phase of the European project DIGITAL FIRST serves as…
Researchers and educators from 16 countries explored how artificial intelligence, Bebras tasks and learning analytics can support the teaching and assessment of Informatics and Computational Thinking. Learning analytics in Informatics is a topic of growing…
Digital education is firmly established in European policies and curricula, but schools still face uneven access, gaps in teacher preparation and limited evaluation of outcomes. The new Eurydice report examines these challenges and the conditions…
The 19th International Conference on Informatics in Schools: Situation, Evolution, and Perspectives (ISSEP) was held at Tallinn University in Estonia from 20 to 23 September 2026. ISSEP is an established international forum bringing together researchers,…
In our previous article (From Play to Purpose: Functional Learning in Computer Science with Scratch, Minecraft Education and Micro:bit), we discussed how primary education often introduces computer science through engaging tools and interactive learning environments,…
Technology is becoming easier to use, while its effects on learning are becoming harder to judge. At the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education, this tension shapes discussion about teacher preparation. Educators need to recognise…
The integration of artificial intelligence and media literacy into the Italian education system is undergoing a profound transformation guided by a precise regulatory framework. The Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM) formalized this pathway with…
Across ten European countries, the pilot evaluation points to a promising approach: organise digital learning around what students want to express, investigate, create or solve. Teachers valued its educational relevance, while classroom experience showed where…
What happens when a common European approach to informatics education meets real classrooms, different school systems, different age groups and different levels of digital experience? Over the past months, the DIGITAL FIRST project has been…
Digital First is delighted to announce its Final Conference, taking place on Thursday, 22 October 2026 at the BIP Meeting Centre in Brussels. The event will be held jointly with Teachers 4.0, a fellow EU-funded…
In today’s connected world, digital technologies have become an inseparable part of our everyday lives. We communicate, learn, work, create, entertain ourselves and build relationships through digital platforms. Social media, in particular, has transformed the…
As of 2 August, the European Commission, together with national authorities, has started enforcing key provisions of the EU AI Act, including mandatory transparency requirements for AI systems and AI-generated content. The new rules are…
Digital transformation in education is often measured by device availability, connectivity, or the introduction of new technologies in classrooms. Yet educational research increasingly suggests that these indicators alone tell only part of the story. As…
On 30 June, teachers involved in the implementation of the DIGITAL FIRST pilot in Portugal gathered at CFAE-PVVC (Teacher Training Centre for the School Associations of Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde) for a…
The Annual Bebras International Task Workshop 2026 (BITW26) was held in Cambridge, United Kingdom, from 10–15 May 2026. Organised by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, the workshop brought together computing education experts, researchers, and teachers from…
Professor Valentina Dagienė from Vilnius University, Lithuania, was invited as a keynote speaker at the Festival of Learning, organised by the Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education (APSCE) in Kumamoto, Japan (https://eds.let.media.kyoto-u.ac.jp/TBICS2026/keynote/valentina-dagiene/). The event brought…
Abstract Digital technology offers many opportunities for creativity, problem-solving, and active learning. This article presents a learning scenario carried out with students from the 8th and 9th grades within the Digital First project, Digital Tech…
New EU Kids Online findings show that children’s digital lives are deeply embedded in everyday communication, learning and social life. For DIGITAL FIRST, this reinforces a key message: young people need meaningful informatics education that…
In the 2026/27 school year, Slovenian primary schools will begin introducing the renewed Computer Science elective subject, starting with Grade 7. The renewed courses for Grades 8 and 9 will follow in the next two…
Traditional mathematics instruction in Italian high schools frequently faces a hurdle of student disengagement, often driven by an overemphasis on abstract theory and formulaic memorisation. To modernise this approach, a forward-looking proposal suggests a deep…
Adolescence represents a critical phase of cognitive transition, during which children move away from purely concrete experiences and begin to master abstract reasoning. In the context of Italian middle schools, where technology is omnipresent yet…
The contemporary Italian classroom faces a silent but significant challenge. While today’s youth are undeniably digital natives, their relationship with technology remains largely passive, centred on consumption rather than creation. To transform this superficial familiarity…
As part of the implementation of the Digital First pilot project, three school clusters in the Porto district, in Northern Portugal: Aver-o-Mar School Cluster, Campo Aberto School Cluster, and D. Afonso Sanches School Cluster, have…
The pilot phase of DIGITAL FIRST in Spain has offered valuable insights into how to integrate innovative approaches to computer science education in real-world classroom contexts. Led by the University of A Coruña, the pilot…
The DIGITAL FIRST project is proud to announce the successful completion of its webinar and podcast series, marking an important milestone in the project’s efforts to support educators, trainers, and learners in navigating the digital…
Artificial intelligence(AI) and computational thinking are becoming increasingly important in education and everyday life. At the same time, teachers need practical tools and materials that help them teach these skills to learners of all ages…
The Digital First project recently completed a pilot implementation in Greece at the High School of Kato Kastritsi in Patras, where 20 lower-secondary students aged 12–15 participated in classroom activities focused on digital communication, online…
In today’s Bulgarian schools, digital devices are no longer an addition to the learning process—they are part of students’ everyday reality. Smartphones, tablets, online platforms, educational apps, and AI tools have transformed how young people…
In primary education, computer science is often introduced through engaging tools and interactive environments. However, an important question remains: are students only learning how to use these tools, or are they developing knowledge they can…
The DIGITAL FIRST project continues to support the future of informatics education in Europe by helping teachers bring innovative and meaningful digital learning approaches into their classrooms. Between December 2025 and January 2026, more than…
One of the acquisitions of the Digital First project, is that learning analytics offers a powerful opportunity to rethink not only how students learn ICT, but also how teachers teach it. At the centre of…
Starting in the school year 2026/27, Slovenian primary schools will introduce a new compulsory elective subject: Computer Science. In the Slovenian system, “compulsory elective” refers to a group of subjects that schools are required to…
In the Digital First podcast 6, produced by OŠ bratov Polančičev Maribor, students explored the generational digital divide using Halliday’s language functions. The podcast combined linguistic theory, digital literacy, and a discussion with two experts…
Valentina Dagienė, Vilnius University, Lithuania As part of an Erasmus-funded academic mobility project, the DIGITAL FIRST project was actively promoted across Bangladesh through visits to 11 universities in Dhaka and Barishal. These visits provided a…
What is AI? Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems designed to perform tasks that usually would require human-like intelligence, such as understanding language, recognizing patterns, generating content and problem-solving. Modern AI models such as…
At the end of March, partners of the Digital First Network gathered in A Coruña, Spain, for a two-day consortium meeting hosted by Universidade da Coruña. Bringing together partners from across Europe, the meeting provided…
When new approaches developed through collaboration between partners across countries are recognised at European level, it shows they are addressing something that truly matters. That is exactly what has happened with our Digital First project, which is…
TEACHER TRAINING IN PORTUGAL WITHIN THE EUROPEAN ERASMUS+ PROJECT DIGITAL FIRST On January 21 and 28, 2026, the School Association Training Centre of Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde (CFAE-PVVC), in the north of…
The transformation of informatics education requires more than just updated tools; it demands a profound shift in how we perceive digital technology in the classroom. This was the guiding principle during the recent teacher training…
As part of the Digital First project, partner countries are preparing teachers to pilot newly developed teaching scenarios that support informatics education and digital competences. In Slovenia, this preparation took the form of an intensive,…
From the upcoming school year, Croatian students will have the opportunity to choose a new elective subject focused on artificial intelligence. As reported by Dnevnik.hr, the subject aims to introduce students to how AI works,…
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…
In January, the Digital First project brought together more than 50 teachers from across Lithuania for two intensive online professional training sessions. These sessions were designed to prepare educators for the upcoming pilot phase, during…
Reflections from the Bulgarian Educational Context Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming part of everyday learning environments, and Bulgaria is no exception. Bulgarian students already interact with AI-powered search engines, recommendation systems, automated translation tools,…
The Commission has published a new Flash Eurobarometer survey on the “Future Needs in Digital Education”. The survey explores EU citizens’ views on the role of teachers, artificial intelligence in education, the overall benefits of…
Digital First’s partners published another report titled Competencies Map for informatics teachers in secondary school. It defines the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions that informatics teachers need at the lower and upper secondary levels (ISCED…
As part of the Digital First project, three professional training sessions for teachers were held in Croatia in December 2025. Their aim was to empower teachers to implement the piloting of teaching scenarios based on…
Digital First’s partners have published a new report called Competencies Map for Informatics Teachers in Primary School. This report focuses on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that primary school teachers need to effectively introduce informatics…
The debate around digital education has long focused on tools, platforms, and technical competences. More recently, attention has shifted toward moving from a structural to a functional approach in teaching informatics—prioritising meaning, problem-solving, and real-life…
Why Ethics Matters in an AI-Driven World Artificial Intelligence has become an invisible yet powerful presence in everyday life. From recommending videos and editing images to supporting learning platforms and generating text, video, and audio,…
Local and regional NGOs play a vital role in promoting education, STEM, and digital skills in their communities. Yet, many smaller organizations are unsure how to get involved in international projects or leverage EU initiatives…
About the Bebras Challenge Across the world, including Finland, in-school enrichment initiatives play a vital role in complementing formal education, giving students access to the most up-to-date knowledge and digital skills. Among these initiatives, the…
Digital First’s partners have published a new report called Informatics teacher education and training in the EU today. The research provides a comprehensive overview of how informatics teachers are educated and trained across Europe and…
This year, the Bulgarian government advanced legislation to prohibit most mobile-phone use by school students during lessons and breaks, permitting phones only for explicitly educational, medical or emergency purposes. The aim: to reduce distractions, combat…
On September 25–26, 2025, the Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy in Lithuania hosted the biannual event “Kompiuterininkų dienos” (Computer Scientists’ Days), gathering enthusiasts of informatics, education, and technology from across Lithuania (https://www.liks.lt/en/coda-2025/). This two-day event has…
In September 2025, the historic city of Trier, Germany, hosted the 18th International Conference on Informatics in Schools: Situations, Evolution, and Perspectives (ISSEP). This prestigious annual event gathered leading researchers, educators, and policymakers from across…
Educational robotics is opening new doors for how informatics can be taught in schools. By integrating robotics into the classroom, students are not just learning coding and computational thinking but also experiencing how digital tools…
In the first week of September 2025, it was held the UNESCO Digital Learning Week (https://www.unesco.org/en/weeks/digital-learning). The event aims to foster critical reflection, peer learning and policy dialogue, addressing today’s pressing challenges while shaping the…
At the end of September, the Portuguese coastal town of Póvoa de Varzim became the centre of European collaboration dedicated to bringing innovative informatics education into schools. Partners of the Digital First Network project, representing…
Whilst everyone has heard at least once the term generative AI, not many people might know what learning analytics is. Learning analytics is commonly defined as “the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of data about…
Digital education is evolving rapidly, and the European Digital Education Hub (EDEH or Hub) is at the forefront of this transformation. As part of the European Union’s Digital Education Action Plan and funded through Erasmus+,…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a daily topic in the media, but Italian schools still keep it at the margins. University research may move forward, yet in the everyday life of pupils, AI is barely visible.…
While Digital First project partners are filing the Computer Science, along with the Pedagogical and transversal competence, so as to make sure they are fully equipped to teach following the Functional approach in ICT learning,…
The Digital First project is opening a new chapter in the way informatics is taught across Europe through the creation of Dialogue Clubs. These clubs are designed as collaborative spaces where educators, experts, and stakeholders…
In today’s fast-changing digital world, simply teaching students how to code isn’t enough. Young people need digital skills that help them think critically, solve real-life problems, and use technology creatively. Yet, across Europe, informatics education…
Since 2022 AI has been a hot topic, but throughout the years there has been a rising urge to build regulations and frameworks to promote its development on a larger scale, as well as its…
In April 2025 the coalition Informatics for All released a report on the requirements for the informatics school curriculum and informatics school teachers’ education. Following a survey conducted by the Informatics For All Steering Committee…
Croatia is stepping confidently into the future by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its primary and secondary education system. With new curricula, pilot programs, and teacher training initiatives, students and educators alike are getting hands-on…
In today’s educational context, characterised by a constant flow of data, interactive digital environments and technologies that mediate our perceptions, it is essential to rethink how computer science is taught and how digital literacy is…
The DIGITAL FIRST project’s Dialogue Clubs have uncovered valuable insights essential for reshaping informatics education. The initial Dialogue Clubs highlighted students’ widespread use of digital technologies as a means of self-expression, emphasising a critical need…
The 19th volume of the journal Olympiads in Informatics has just been released and it offers a wide range of valuable research and practical insights for educators in informatics and computer science. Closely associated with…
The Digital First project explores not only what is taught in digital education, but also who is teaching it. This article examines how future informatics teachers are educated in Slovenia, their pathways to the classroom…
The fourth episode of the podcast series has been released, focusing on a timely and essential topic: The importance of teaching and learning computer science. This episode presents a thoughtful conversation with three high school…
Welcome to the world of unplugged activities! Fun, hands-on and creative screen-free experiences designed to help pupils build computational thinking skills and think like computer scientists! What is computational thinking? Computational thinking is a set…
At Primary School bratov Polančičev Maribor, a vibrant intergenerational digital day was organized for preschool children from Kindergarten Boris Peče Maribor. This initiative introduced the youngest learners to digital concepts through play-based learning and collaboration…
Beyond the classroom: exploring student digital leadership, responsibility, and regulatory function To conclude the discussion groups, OŠ Toneta Čufarja Maribor exchanged opinions on the regulatory function and its connection to computer science education with a…
Following up on two articles published on this project site concerning paradigm shifts in ICT schooling and the prospects of functional ICT education, it is time to take a step forward by reflecting on the…
In the era of rapid digital transformation, informatics education has become crucial in preparing students for future careers and societal participation. However, several myths persist about what truly constitutes effective informatics teaching. Here, we unpack…
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…
Between October 2024 and April 2025, the Secondary School “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” in Smolyan organised a series of seven Dialogue Clubs, held both in person and online through platforms such as Canva, Padlet,…
Introduction One of the most ambitious components of Portugal’s digital transition in education has been the deployment of Digital Ambassadors (Embaixadores Digitais), strategically positioned as pedagogical leaders tasked with supporting schools in their digital transformation.…
In the third work package of the Digital First project, dialogue clubs are organised for teachers, parents, and other stakeholders. While the outcomes of these sessions will be presented at a later stage, this article…
Informatics education is evolving. Today’s students — digital natives — don’t just learn through textbooks and lectures. They build, explore, and understand the world through games, simulations, and interactive tools. At Digital First, we believe…
As Slovenia concluded its Dialogue Clubs initiative on April 1, 2025, educators from various disciplines, including computer science, informatics, languages, and primary education, have reflected on the profound impact these collaborative forums have had on…
As digital technologies continue influencing every aspect of life, equipping young people with the skills and understanding to navigate this world is more crucial than ever. The DIGITAL FIRST project is dedicated to aligning informatics…
At the Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana, future informatics teachers learn how to implement project work in their teaching. This is done through them developing new interdisciplinary projects that they can later use with…
In today’s education landscape, digital tools have become essential for fostering creativity, collaboration, and innovative learning methods. The DIGITAL FIRST Dialogue Club in Slovenia recently brought together educators, ICT specialists, trainers, and parents to explore…
1. The Role of AI in Modern Informatics Education Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming education, influencing teaching methodologies and learning processes. Within the overall mission of developing innovative approaches for informatics education, the DIGITAL…
On February 20, 2024, the Šiauliai City Municipality Education Center, in collaboration with the Methodological Council of Informatics and Information Technology Teachers, organized a virtual conference titled “Challenges and Opportunities in Informatics Education: Competency-Based Learning,…
Our DIGITAL FIRST project is on a mission to revolutionize how informatics is taught and learned across Europe. By focusing on problem-solving, computational thinking, and practical applications, we aim to empower students to navigate the…
The DIGITAL FIRST partner CFAE-PVVC organised a Dialogue Club on 10 February 2025 bringing together teachers from various disciplinary fields, including informatics teachers, representatives of NGOs, teacher trainers, digital ambassadors, and representatives of regional education institutions. During the session, participants discussed…
Educating students in informatics/computer science/computing is essential for preparing future citizens to actively participate in, influence, and contribute to the development of the digital world. As technology continues to shape every aspect of our lives,…
From January 21st to 22nd, 2025, the vibrant city of Ljubljana, Slovenia, became the epicentre of discussions on the future of informatics education. Representatives from all partner institutions of the DIGITAL FIRST project gathered in…
Informatics education: Where We Are Teaching informatics and developing digital competencies (Vuorikari 2022) is crucial for the long-term competitiveness and security of the European Union. In order to expand production capacities for modern technologies, resources…
The DIGITAL FIRST project proposes a new approach to teaching computer science, in which the function of computer skills is in the foreground and serves as the ultimate goal of the educational process. By emphasising…
As the digital world evolves, education must prepare students not just to adapt to change but to drive it. By replacing the structural, syntax-heavy teaching of informatics with a focus on functional language and computational…