25 Apr DIGITAL FIRST: Digital Tech as the First Language: Informatics for Digital Natives

25 Apr, 2024

BACKGROUND 

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. And there is a need for upskilling of teachers and new approaches towards today’s students, the digital natives, born in a digital world and arriving at school education already with a certain level of digital skills. 

 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

The DIGITAL FIRST project is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at shaping the future of informatics education in primary and secondary schools across Europe to match the needs of today’s children.  The project calls for a move from a traditional approach in informatics education 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”. 

 

OBJECTIVES 

During two years, our project will encompass a diverse range of activities aimed at fundamentally transforming informatics education across Europe: 

• Research and analysis of the current landscape of informatics education 
• Development and piloting of innovative teaching methods 
• Defining the competencies for informatics teachers 
• Leveraging insights from learning analytics 
• Setting up an informatics teachers support network 
• Involving stakeholders through dialogue clubs 

 

TARGET AUDIENCE 

• Teachers: Primary school/secondary school/HEI teachers, school administrators 
• Education providers and researchers: Higher education institutions (HEIs) and other tertiary education providers for informatics teachers, pedagogical research organisations 
• Parents 
• Public bodies and policymakers: Ministries, governmental agencies, policymakers at national and EU level  
• Indirect target groups: Students, All-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs, Technology providers, Press and media, Wider community  

 

IMPACT 

DIGITAL FIRST 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. 

 

STAY IN TOUCH 

Interested in staying in touch with the DIGITAL FIRST project for future news, activities and focus groups for teachers, educators, parents, NGO representatives, local authorities, and students? You can subscribe to our newsletter here and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram!

 

PROJECT PARTNERS 

The project consortium consists of 15 organisations including universities, teacher training centers, primary and secondary schools, NGOs, and a public body from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain. 

 

 

 

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