The stem revolution for Croatian schools has begun for children in grades 1-4!

Zagreb, November 6, 2018 - Elementary schools across the whole of Croatia as can apply for participation in the new STEM Revolution – Grades 1- 4 project. Those participating will have the opportunity to teach their youngest pupils digital literacy competencies and learn programming using micro:bits.

The project was presented by Nenad Bakic, the President of the Institute for Youth Development and Innovation (IRIM). During the last year, project STEM revolution introduced programming into the wider education system, with a donation of 25,000 micro:bit microcomputers into 1000 institutions.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Education, the Croatian Employers Association, CARNet and other partners through the ProMikro project IRIM, programming in the 6th grade with over 35,000 donated micro:bits was introducted, was well as content development and education of over 2000 teachers.

''There is a strong interest in Croatian educational system for the introduction of STEM competencies, especially in relation to technology. This can be seen in advanced activities, for example, through the ever-growing interest in the Croatian Makers Robotics League, which now includes over 550 educational institutions, but equally at the widest level of digital competence development, i.e. programming and the development of digital literacy, through STEM Revolution projects and ProMikro. As a follow up to these projects, research conducted among school principals and teachers shows a great interest in expanding these activities,'' Nenad Bakic said at the presentation of the project which will be implemented in cooperation with Rotary Club Zagreb Center and Rotary District 1913 – Croatia.

There are currently approximately 2000 schools in Croatia which have pupils in grades 1 - 4, and all will be invited to voluntarily participate in the project. Expectations are that approximately half of the schools will apply, taking into account the interest of the school and the teachers, as well as the availability of other equipment such as computers, tablets, or smartphones, which are used to program micro:bits.

Programming will be introduced for a particular subject and also across the spectrum of school subjects. Micro:bit is a teaching tool for delivering existing content in a digitally creative way so there is no need to change the curriculum.

After the national STEM project, the micro:bit has established itself as a globally unique and leading computing platform, with national projects, for example in Denmark (for all 5th grade students, to introduce programming), Singapore and Canada.

As lower grade students rarely have a designated time to use computer labs, micro:bits will be placed in school libraries. In this way, teaching can take place in the library and in the classrooms. The library will allocate additional micro:bits for students to borrow for work at home, Bakic announced.

The project cost is estimated at 5 to 6 million kuna, and initial funding will be provided by IRIM and the Rotary Club Zagreb Center, each with 100,000 kuna, which will secure the purchase of the first micro:bits.

The project will be implemented for a period of 12 or 24 months, depending on the availability of funds and interest of the schools. It is possible to finance it in phases, so schools will receive micro:bits in waves, in the order that have signed up.

IRIM will also fund the development of content for lessons from various subjects, using micro-bits, just as it did for the 6th and 5th grade. Content will be permanently available and upgraded using various channels. IRIM will also educate 1000 - 3000 teachers, just like it previously trained two thousand teachers for the ProMikro project.

IRIM also provides web site production, collection of applications and communication with schools. Partner organisations joining are: the Croatian Post Office, which will donate the delivery of micro:bits throughout the country, the Bruketa & Žinić & Gray creative agency will supply its services in the project presentation, and the PR agency Communication Laboratory will give support for public relations. BBC micro:bit is an educational and creative tool whose purpose is to inspire a new generation of young people.

It can be used in a variety of ways throughout the curriculum, not just in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). It can help young people acquire knowledge and skills to develop from digital technology consumers into designers and creators of new tools that will help them improve their learning, solve problems or simply entertain them and allow them to take full advantage of the benefits of life and economy in the 21st century.

Micro:bit is characterised by extremely low prices, low barriers for beginner and advanced use, and a highly rich ecosystem. Click here and here for examples.

The founders of the Micro Foundation are: the BBC, Microsoft, Amazon, Samsung, ARM, the British Council and others.

IRIM runs the Croatian Makers program, which includes a number of projects such as: the Croatian Makers Robotics League, STEM Revolution, ProMikro, Internet of Things, STEM Revolution continues - Libraries, STEM Car. Croatian Makers, with over 100,000 children, and over 3,000 educated teachers, is the largest program of its kind in the EU.

The founders of IRIM are Nenad and Rujana Bakic. You can find more information on Croatian Makers here. Participating schools can apply here.

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Although robotics is not for everyone, digital technologies are already essential in a large number of occupations and they will soon be key for almost all professions, says Nenad Bakić. He will discuss the importance of robotics in education at the “Better Education, Better Croatia” conference which will be held on November 12, reports Poslovni.hr on November 4, 2018.

The founder of the Croatian Makers project, which brought learning about advanced technologies into many Croatian schools, says that robotics is an attractive discipline and children love it.

Initially as part of the independent project “STEM Revolution”, and later in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Education, about 85% of Croatian schools which have volunteered for the project have received microcomputers for all their sixth-grade students, while their teachers were educated on how to use them.

In the meantime, Varaždin County has introduced programming with micro:bits for all lower grade students. As part of these and other initiatives, more than 80,000 micro:bits have entered the schools and libraries.

“It is important for kids to learn how to program, but even more important is the way of thinking they will develop. We are developing children’s competencies that have been neglected so far in Croatian schools, such as the ability to collaborate, their communication skills and the algebraic way of thinking,” says Bakić.

The entrepreneur points out that, starting from this year, Sweden has introduced programming as a compulsory subject from the first grade of elementary schools.

Bakić adds that his IRIM association has opted for micro:bits because of their wide applicability. “At first, we had robotics training in 360 schools – the number has now risen to 550 – but the technology actually served only those children who were interested in it. We have been looking for the technology that will fully democratise the learning of digital skills, and the micro:bit is as an ideal a tool for this,” says Bakić.

More than 2,000 teachers have expressed their interest in the Croatian Makers project, he adds.

“Nowadays, children can learn about the gradient of a slope by programming their micro:bits”, explains Bakić. “We have also educated 30 religious studies teachers for their use, and more and more girls are getting involved in the project as well,” Bakić concludes.

If you want to read more about the digital revolution in Croatia, click here.

Translated from Poslovni.hr.

The project includes 84 percent of all primary schools in Croatia, involving more than 2,200 teachers and 38,000 students.

Nenad Bakić’s project makes an important step forward.