Nominated for OUT OF THE BOX.NRW

IT4Kids

Aachen

Nominated by:
Annika Büschgens

Internet address:

Your business model in three sentences

IT4Kids acquires funding of foundations, school boards and companies to give schools easy tools to teach programming to kids from the third grade forward on their own. Volunteering students help with IT-courses if the school is not ready yet.

What problem do you solve?

There is a serious problem in Germany with regard to the lack of information technology education. In the age of digitization and advancing technological development, it is essential that students receive a sound education in this area while still at school. However, many schools lack qualified teachers and sufficient technical equipment to adequately teach computer literacy. In addition, the subject is only offered as an elective in most German states, which means that many students do not have the opportunity to learn about it due to a lack of capacity or interest. The consequences: In an increasingly digitalized world of work, young people without sufficient informatics skills have poorer opportunities in professional life and there is a risk of a digital divide. In addition, the lack of informatics education prevents the emergence of innovative and creative minds that are urgently needed to remain competitive in the technological field in the future. IT4Kid empowers every school to teach programming from the 3rd grade onward, all data protection compliant.

What's your digital solution?

Our solution is to make it simple and fun for every teacher. Therefore, we programmed our own learning software to fit it perfectly for in-class usage. In addition, we developed in years of experience a teaching concept for the teachers with a lot of levels. Each level is a game which teaches a new skill. Step-by-step, Our solution is to make it simple and fun for every teacher. Therefore, we programmed our own learning software to fit it perfectly for in-class usage. In addition, we developed in years of experience a teaching concept for the teachers with a lot of levels. Each level is a game which teaches a new skill. Step-by-step, the teacher is learning with the kids and has not to be an expert from the beginning. The teaching can start right away by everyone. The teacher decides whether he or she wants to make only a day, a few weeks or a whole year course. With an easy digital training (2 - 3 hours) we train students and teachers to teach with our learning software and material.

Why should we award you for your digital business model?

Schools have a difficult task. Solutions must be simple, and additional bureaucratic and legal hurdles must be prevented if progress is to be achieved. IT4Kids is the easiest way to inspire non-IT learning staff and every school to create their own IT lessons in the long term, so that every child receives an IT education with equal opportunities.