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Project Digital First: Transforming Informatics Education for the Digital Age

In today's digital age, equipping students with essential informatics skills is crucial to their ability to navigate, influence, and contribute to the evolving digital world. Recognizing this imperative, the Digital First project emerges as an endeavor aimed at transforming informatics education in primary and secondary schools across Europe.

Algebra University is a proud project coordinator of the project DIGITAL FRST - Digital tech as the first language: informatics for digital natives. Developed under the Erasmus+ Programme and managed by the European Commission and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA),

Partnering with 15 organizations across 10 European countries, including Croatia, Spain, Lithuania, Finland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy, the Digital First project is a collaborative effort of exceptional proportions. Together, partners from prestigious educational institutions, governmental organizations, NGOs, and SMEs bring a wealth of expertise and insights to the table, uniting in a shared mission to redefine how informatics is taught in primary and secondary schools.

Kicking off on January 1, 2024, and spanning until December 31, 2026, with the financial support of the EU of 1,448,889.00 EUR, Digital First is responding to the needs of today's digitally native children. Born into a world permeated by digital technology, these students arrive at school equipped with a foundational level of digital literacy. Digital First seeks to harness this inherent familiarity by transforming the traditional approach to informatics education.

At its core, Digital First advocates for a shift from conventional teaching methods reliant on programming languages and technical knowledge to an innovative pedagogical approach. By prioritizing functional understanding and problem-solving skills, the project aims to empower students to become active creators rather than passive consumers of the digital realm.

Collaborating across borders, Digital First partners are united in their pursuit of several key objectives:

  • Understanding informatics education theory and practice through extensive research and data collection.
  • Developing and testing innovative pedagogical approaches in informatics education, with pilot programs implemented in participating countries.
  • Defining a comprehensive competences catalogue for informatics teachers to ensure consistency and quality in education delivery.
  • Establishing a robust support network for informatics teachers, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.
  • Engaging stakeholders from across the education spectrum through dialogue clubs to shape the future of informatics education collaboratively.

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 start of the project was successfully marked on January 1, 2024, with 15 partners from 10 organizations participating in the project:

We would like to thank the European Commission for recognizing the value of our project proposal, as well as the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) for their support during the implementation of the project.

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