EU Code Week – Local train-the-trainer courses in Turkey

Publication date: July 25, 2023

As a part of the EU Code Week local train-the-trainer initiative and with the coordination of the EU Code Week team, Adil Tugyan, the Code Week Ambassador to Turkey, organized three face-to-face training seminars with the participation of 80 teachers from different school levels and subjects. In fact, local train-the-trainer courses are a great opportunity to bring EU Code Week to your schools and spread the Code Week vision locally. The core aim of these seminars is to introduce the EU Code week initiative, the pillars it stands on and different ways of taking coding into the classroom, integrating it with the subjects and the curriculum. 

Nowadays, integrating coding into school curriculums is becoming increasingly important as technology continues to play a larger role in our daily lives. And, by teaching coding and digital skills, students can develop problem-solving skills, computational thinking, and creativity, which are essential skills for the 21st century workforce. 

Many countries have already started integrating coding into their school curriculums. For example, in the UK, coding has been a part of the national curriculum since 2014, and in Estonia, coding is taught as a mandatory subject in all schools from the first grade. Other countries, like Turkey, are following suit by introducing coding and digital skills into their curriculums as optional or elective subjects. 

Overall, initiatives like EU Code week and the integration of coding into school curriculums are important steps towards ensuring that young people are equipped with the skills they need to succeed in the digital age. Beyond this, teachers play a key role in the integration process. 

The Seminars 

Three seminars were held, and each lasted for three days.  Besides coding, the seminars also introduced the participants to Generative AI and the Metaverse.  The program of the seminars was the following: 

Day 1: Introduction to EU Code Week Initiative, Coding and Computational Thinking 

The first day of the seminar started with an introduction to the EU Code Week Initiative and the webpage, coding, and computational thinking. The day covered the basics of coding, including coding concepts and terminology, coding languages, and coding platforms. Teachers learned how to use coding to teach computational thinking skills, which are essential skills for problem solving and critical thinking. 

 The day’s program included a mix of lectures, hands-on coding activities, and group discussions. Teachers had the opportunity to experiment with basic coding concepts using coding platforms such as Code.org, Scratch, and basic Python. The participants also learned about the importance of teaching coding to their students and how coding can be integrated into existing courses.

Day 2:  Introduction to Generative AI and the Metaverse  

The second day of the seminar focused on emerging technologies like Generative AI and the Metaverse and the technology behind them. Teachers learned the brief history of AI, the types of AI and how they learn (Machine Learning and Deep learning) as well as a useful vocabulary with words like algorithms, neurons, natural language processing…  alongside examples and applications. The metaverse and its components with examples and teachers created their own metaverse spaces on Spatial and Mozilla hubs. The day included lectures, hands-on activities, and group discussions. Teachers had the opportunity to learn about VR technologies using VR Oculus 2 glasses. 

Day 3: Curriculum Integration and Creating Activities 

The main topic of the third day has been curriculum integration and assessment. Teachers learned how to integrate coding into their existing courses and how to assess student learning in coding. They also learned about available resources and tools for teaching coding, such as the EU Code Week webpage and the other coding platforms and lesson plans. 

The day included lectures, hands-on coding activities, and group discussions. Teachers had the opportunity to learn how to add an activity on the EU Code Week webpage and how to join the CodeWeek4All challenge.  

At the end of the seminars, the teachers were awarded EU Code Week certificates. 

Integrating Coding into School Subjects 

Furthermore, integrating coding into existing courses can be a great way for teachers to introduce their students to coding and digital skills without adding an entirely new subject to their curriculum. For instance, here are some ways that teachers can integrate coding into their existing courses: 

1. Math: Coding and math are closely related, and teachers can use coding to teach math concepts such as geometry, algebra, and calculus. For example, students can use coding to create interactive graphs and charts, or to visualize complex mathematical concepts.
2. Science: it is possible to simulate experiments and create simulations of scientific phenomena through coding. For instance, students can use coding to simulate the effects of gravity or to model the behavior of atoms and molecules.
3. Language Arts: Coding can be used to create digital stories, animations, and games that can help students develop their language arts skills.  As an example, students can use coding to create interactive stories or games that teach vocabulary, grammar, or literary concepts.
4. Social Studies: Coding offers the potential to create digital maps, timelines, and other interactive tools that can help students explore historical events and geographical locations. For example, students can use coding to create interactive timelines that show the progression of historical events.
5. Art: Digital art and animations can be created with coding for example, students can use coding to create animations that explore different art styles or to create interactive art installations.
6. Physical Education: Games and simulations that promote physical activity can be created using coding skills. For instance, students can use coding to create games that simulate different sports or to create fitness trackers that monitor physical activity.
7. Music: Coding can be used to create digital music and soundscapes. For example, students can use coding to create interactive music videos or to create digital instruments that can be played using code.

There are many resources, Anybody can Learn Coding,  Code 4 Fun, Learning Code, and Sony Coding are available to help teachers integrate coding into their existing courses.