Programming and computational thinking skills are becoming ever more important in our society and working life. As emphasized by the 2015 New priorities ET2020, “knowing how to code is empowering. It allows us to understand the digital world we live in and to shape it. Basic coding skills are essential for accessing the jobs of tomorrow and today”.
In light of these recommendations, the CODESKILLS4ROBOTICS project aims to promote robotics as an effective introductory channel to programming and other STEM disciplines, as well as a way to develop transversal employability skills such as problem solving, leadership and creativity.
The CODESKILLS4ROBOTICS project is developing the following resources:
→ A Comparative Report on the status quo of educational robotics in 4 EU countries;
→ A Competence Framework on programming and robotics skills;
→ An Educational Back Pack in 2 modules, available both for download and on our e-learning platform;
→ A Toolkit to guide schools in setting up educational robotics classes and Clubs;
→ An EU-wide campaign and policy recommendations.
In light of the objectives of the CODESKILLS4ROBOTICS project and of our belief in the current and future centrality of inclusive digital education,
→ To support a vision of digital education where technology is carefully integrated - and not “dumped” for its own sake - into education systems, based on the belief that digital technology can support and enhance people’s learning if it is incorporated in a purposeful and strategic way;
→ To embrace a learner-centered approach to digital education which seeks to empower learners by taking into account their needs rather than adhering solely to the needs of an increasingly digitalised labour market;
→ To aspire for cross-sector cooperation by building bridges between formal, non-formal and informal learning in order to foster innovative and inclusive approaches to meeting learners’ needs
→ To advocate for increased support for teachers and educators involved in the implementation of digital technology in learning environments, including calls for investments in their competences and initial and continuous professional development;
→ To advocate for equal access, for all students and at all levels of education, to STEAM learning opportunities (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics), as well as for their inclusiveness regardless of gender, ableness, race, religion, sexuality, socio-economic status or any other difference;
To being active advocates for inclusion as the key guiding principle for policies on digital education at national, European and international level, placing particular emphasis on the implementation of educational robotics as a flexible, effective and interdisciplinary introductory channel to STEAM subjects.
We hereby agree to include the name of our organisation in a public list of signatories until the end of the project lifetime and to identify the following person as CODESKILLS4ROBOTICS Ambassador. They will be the first to be informed about upcoming project-related opportunities (campaigns, events, policy statements etc.), and they will represent the point of contact between their organisation and the CODESKILLS4ROBOTICS project, also allowing for direct support in case clarifications on any of the project-related tools and materials are needed.