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Educating students in informatics at school is essential to equip every citizen with the necessary knowledge to participate, influence, and contribute to the development of the digital world. By learning informatics, students can safely and critically navigate the internet and contribute to an expanding infosphere that consists of more and more algorithms that may be biased or information that may be flawed or incomplete.
DIGITAL FIRST – Digital tech as the first language: Informatics for digital natives is a groundbreaking project aimed at shaping the future of informatics education in primary and secondary schools across Europe to match the needs of today’s children, the digital natives, born in a digital world and arriving at school education already with a certain level of digital skills.
DIGITAL FIRST calls for a move from a traditional approach in informatics education based on programming languages and technical knowledge to an innovative pedagogical approach focusing on computational thinking to help students learn how to address real-life challenges. This shift in education will encourage the young generation to be “active creators” of the digital world, rather than “passive consumers”.
The project started on 1 December 2023 and will end on 30 November 2026.
The project partners work together to achieve the following objectives:
The Digital First project encompasses a diverse range of tasks aimed at fundamentally transforming informatics education across Europe.
Firstly, extensive research and analysis will be conducted to gain insights into the current landscape of informatics education in European schools. This involves examining existing practices and methodologies to identify areas for improvement and innovation.
Building upon this research, the project will be focused on developing and implementing innovative teaching methods in informatics. These methods will be designed to engage students effectively and emphasize practical application, by equipping learners with essential digital skills for the modern world.
Additionally, the project places significant emphasis on defining the competencies required for informatics teachers. By establishing clear guidelines and standards, educators will be better prepared to deliver high-quality informatics education to their students.
Furthermore, the project emphasizes hands-on learning experiences through pilot programs in selected schools. These programs will involve crafting teaching materials, training teachers, and evaluating outcomes to refine and improve teaching practices.
Finally, leveraging insights from learning analytics, the project aims to inform teaching practices and track student progress effectively. By harnessing data-driven insights, educators will be able to adapt their approaches to better meet the needs of their students and foster a more engaging learning environment.
The project will strengthen the knowledge and competences of informatics teachers in integrating informatics into primary and secondary education to promote the active and safe use of digital technology among their students.
The project outcomes and collected data will also contribute to the improvement of national policies and EU-level guidelines to shape the future of digital education.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Project number: 101132761