Supporting the transition from kindergarten to school  – AIA

Introduction

Our experience-based training is open to kindergarten teachers, teachers and special needs teachers. The aim of the training is to introduce the ArTeC Early Years programme, which is used worldwide, to develop the learning skills, logical thinking and 21st century skills, STEM basics through play and to prepare teachers to use the programme. 

Description

The training prepares participants to use the ArTeC Early Years programme to its full potential. 

The ArTeC Early Years is a programme that supports experience-based learning. At the heart of the whole programme is a learning process based on students’ own experiences, which directly supports the transition between pre-school and school and provides the basis for many of the skills and competences essential for successful progression to school. 

  • The programme consits of 3 units: 
  • Logical challanges  
  • Remarkable (not yet programmable, but already moving) robots  
  • Programmable robots 

While solving Logical challenges using coloured building blocks, children’s algorithmic thinking, spatial orientation and fine motor skills are developed. The multi-thematic and multi-skill building blocks keep children interested and curious, motivating them, while allowing for differentiated skill development.  

In the Remarkable Robots unit, children learn about the laws of physics in a playful way and experience the joy of designing and building. The construction elements in the set make it easy for students to create interesting, colourful structures. Both this unit and the booklets for programmable robots contain step-by-step descriptions and thought-provoking, experimental exercises.  

The Programmable Robots section completes the designing-building-programming sequence. The focus is on developing problem-solving skills and flexible thinking. The icon-based programming interface is easy to use, quick to learn, simple to use, and gives the experience of real programming. even for those children who cannot read. By debugging and fixing their own code, children’s self-reflective skills are developed. 

 

The structure of the curriculum allows space for independent learning, exploration and self-reflection throughout, thus promoting more positive connections to the concept and process of learning. 

Learning objectives

The aim of the training is to prepare participants to use the ArTeC Early Years programme to effectively integrate experiential learning into their daily teaching practice, develop children’s STEM skills, help them make the transition from kindergarten to school, and develop the skills and competences essential for successful school progression, and to lay the foundation for digital literacy and 21st century skills for children entering school. 

  • Learn about the ArTeC Early Years programme and toolkit, and its skill development potential 
  • Learn about the potential of the programme to support the transition from kindergarten to school 
  • Learn about the differentiated development of logical thinking, spatial perception, fine motoric skills and numeracy 
  • Learn how to build simple ArTeC robots and icon-based programming 
  • Learn to program robots in an icon-based programming environment 
  • Learn in detail how to use student worksheets and teacher guides 
  • Learn how to create their own curriculum based on the ArTeC Early Years program 
  • Gain experience in the implementation and use of the ArTeC Early Years programme in schools 
  • Learn about international experience in the use of the Early Years method 
  • Join the international community of Early Years practitioners to share experiences and knowledge

Methodology and assessment

Experience-based training, delivered by experts from Abacusan Studio – experienced trainers who have been using and teaching the method for years. 

The method can be used by any kind of teacher – kindergarten teacher, teacher, development teacher, day-care or leisure programme leader.  

No prior knowledge of robotics or programming is a prerequisite for the training. The training will develop the participants’ knowledge through a series of practical exercises and interactive lectures using the programme learning materials. 

The robots are programmed in an icon-based programming environment, which makes learning easy and fast, even for beginners. 

Thematics:

Day 1 

  • Getting to know each other, team building 
  • Getting to know the purpose and structure of the Early Years programme 
  • Learning about and testing the ArTeC-AIA building blocks 
  • Types of logic challenges 
  • Solving sample tasks 
  • Differentiation, individualised development and talent management 

Day 2 

  • Building STEM knowledge through the Exciting Robots topic 
  • Building example robots – hands-on experience of using task sheets and  building 
  • Robot variations and experiments based on the worksheets 
  • Learning about teacher’s guides 

Day 3 

  • Building simple programmable robots (police lights, cars, etc.) 
  • Learning about the icon programming environment 
  • Simple programming of movements, lights, sounds, sensors 
  • Possibilities of task stacking 
  • Possibilities for improving algorithmic thinking, creativity and social skills 

Day 4 

  • Visit a RIDE methodology session 
  • Analysis and discussion of what you have seen 

Day 5 

  • Description of the proposed lesson structure for the activities  
  • Workshop: planning your own complex activity 
  • Experiences with the international use of the ArTeC Early Years programme 
  • Possibilities of using ArTeC Early Years in the pedagogical practice of the participants 
  • Evaluation, closing, receiving certificates 

Assessment, condition for issuing a certificate: 

  • Participation in all training lessons 
  • Completion of workshop assignment 

Language

English, Hungarian

Target audience ISCED

ISCED0

ISCED1

Who is it for

  • Teacher 
  • Student teacher 
  • Careers conseillor 
  • Head teacher/Principal 
  • ICT Coordinator 
  • Pedagogical Advisor 
  • Teacher Educator

Related subjects

  • School preparatory courses 
  • IT/Digital culture 
  • Mathematics 
  • Sciences 
  • Engineering

Prior knowledge

  • English B2 
  • Basic IT skills 
  • No prior knowledge is needed in programming or robotics 

Package contents

  • Course (5 days, 5 hours/day) 
  • Tools and equipments (robots, laptop) 
  • Printed materials, downloadable teaching materials 
  • Visit to school (preparation, transport) 
  • Coffee breaks (coffee, tea, snacks) 
  • Certificate, Europass, documentation 
  • Sightseeing or cultural program (depending on weather, 3 hours long) 

Learning time

5 days (25 hours) 

Course fee

475 €

Date

18-22. 11. 2024., Budapest

2-9. 11. 2024., Avilés

Registration:

Click here

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