GO_PRO! Regional Programming Centers works as a network of public libraries, where youth have possibility to learn basic programming skills using innovative robotic tools
We believe that programming skills should not be reserved only for professionals. In modern society, the lack of understanding of the basics of computer science is the new equivalent of illiteracy.
GO_PRO! Network is developing mostly in rural areas in part of Poland with biggest ICT exclusion. The main rule of the network is that it should promote programming classes among whole local community, especially girls and people with disabilities. The main rule of the network is also, that all education activities should be free of charge for everyone.
The capacity shall be built with cooperation with public libraries. Libraries are institutions of public trust, which effectively prevent social exclusion. The role and tasks of public libraries go beyond the collection and sharing of books. They can and should participate in the wide dissemination of knowledge and culture. This project stimulated the international trend of transformation of libraries into social life centers, modern point of access to knowledge and culture.
Within the project we have:
1. Prepared 40 Librarians to be GO_PRO! Trainers (3 days training)
2. Equipped 20 Public rural libraries with IT equipment (interactive projectors, All-in-One computers, tablets, Lego Mindstorms EV3 sets - they gave become Local Programming Centers
3. Within Libraries GO_PRO! trainers lead 500 hours of workshops for 1400 youth
4. In every Programming Center Coders Club was opened - Coder Clubs are based on challenges. Each week there is a new problem, new challenge, which Club has to solve together! They need to learn new thing about algorithm, build a robot using Lego Mindstorms, and then program it properly. Sometimes the challenges forces youth to divide into smaller groups. They compete with each other to create best solution, this way they are stimulated to give all their energy and enthusiasm to solve particular problem the best possible way.
The contract with libraries will last till the end of 2020 to continue work on GO_PRO! centers (news form workshop are published on gopro.edu.pl page). In 2015 and 2016 new GO_PRO! centers will be opened from national and European funds and from private donations.
The main objective of the project was to create space for the development of key competences (ICT) in the field of programming for children and youth.
Specific goals
1. Creation of extracurricular programming education points (GO_PRO!) in 20 municipalities in Poland (VIII – XII 2014)
2. Improving knowledge and competence in teaching the basics of programming (algorithmic) in 40 library workers in Poland (X 2014) – make them “GO_PRO!” trainers
3. Increasing the knowledge and expertise in the creation of algorithms, creative problem solving and creativity in 1200 pupils/students attending classes/workshops in GO_PRO! Centers (X – XII 2014)
4. Increase motivation to learn programming at least half (600) of pupils/students attending classes/workshops in GO_PRO! Centers (X – XII 2014)
Specific Goal 1 and 2 were realized through the creation of the concept of teaching, developing training materials and education toolkits, creation of webportal for communication and developing GO_PRO! network, as well as the transfer of equipment (digital projectors, all-in-one computers, tablets, Lego Mindstorms sets) and training of employees in 20 public libraries in Poland
Specific Goal 3 was achieved by performing in 20 GO_PRO! Centers at least 25 hours of programming lessons and creation of "Coder Clubs". Children and young people were able to meet there and together with “mentors” solve logical problems and create programs addressed to the specific problems
Specific Goal 4 was carried out in a similar manner to the specific goal 3, but here it is worth noting that the motivation was built by the education methods that address some specific issues, as well as the use of innovative, enjoyable educational methods, such as Lego Mindstorms.
Right now there are 20 Programming Centers operational.
In every Center there are about 40-50 Youth participating in programming lessons and Coder Clubs each month (2100 altogether)
Youth participate in:
1. GO_PRO! training's carried out by prepared librarians (GO_PRO! trainers)
2. Coders Clubs (meeting once per week) where Youth receive various tasks to carried out themselves with minor support of GO_PRO! trainers when neccessary
Where to teach programming? Schools? Yes! But also…
The computer classes in Poland appears as early as at 1st year of primary school. The new core curriculum strongly emphasis ICT classes at all stages of learning. But the effects of these changes will have to wait. We see many problems with the implementation of the objectives of the core curriculum. The teacher preparation standards has no single word about programming. Therefore full implementation of the programming curriculum in formal learning paths will be time consuming. Both will require preparation of a comprehensive program, as well as teachers.
Meanwhile, programming workshops are quite good after-school projects. They are designed to have almost immediate gratification. They are based on the intrinsic motivation of students, intensively using techniques such as gamification.
The basic idea is to use the existing infrastructure, only reconfigure it. To create GO_PRO! Centers we cooperated with Public Libraries. Well-equipped educational centers created conditions for modern programming education. In partnerships with local schools libraries organize interesting IT lessons, but also allows (during so called Coder Clubs) youth to develop programming skills during their free time.