Danish schools are embracing the digital learning project ultra:bit.
Since the launch of ultra:bit in 2018 the project has experienced overwhelming commitment. Due to this huge engagement, the project will be expanded three more years till 2023.
Furthermore, from 2021 it will include children aged 12-14 and target all children in year 4-8 in Danish schools.
100.000 children are taking part
Right now, 1,300 Danish schools have enrolled their students for the project. This means 8 out of 10 schools in Denmark are involved and more than 100,000 children are taking part.
The aim of ultra:bit is to inspire children not only to be major consumers of technology but to be creators of technology. At the same time, the project urges the kids to take on a critical position to the technology in our surroundings.
The 1,300 registered schools have received special ultra:bit school sets containing the microcomputer BBC micro:bit, funded by The Danish Industry Foundation.
Children find it easier to code
The BBC micro:bit is playing an essential role in developing children’s creative skills using technology, which is the backbone of the ultra:bit project.
The ultra:bit project is followed by The Center for Evaluation and Development of Science Education (NEUC), who has carried out a study which shows that already after less than a year children and teachers in year 4 have benefited from the project.
The study from 2019 concludes:
• 9 out of 10 kids participating in ultra: bit find it easier to code than they thought it would be.
• 96% of teachers experienced that the kids wanted to learn more about coding and technology.
• 90% of teachers said that the kids expressed interest in knowledge about technology.
Furthermore, new results from the study in 2020 show, that there has been a significant increase in the number of students expressing that they can code.
In August 2018, 27% of the students answered that they can code. This number has increased to 78% in May 2020. Read the summary here.
A unique combination of initiatives
The five-year project consists of a whole range of initiatives at schools and at children’s favorite media such as television channel DR Ultra and digital platform dr.dk/ultra.
More than 18,000 children have participated in ‘ultra:bit coding camps’ and even more children are expected to take part in the coming years.
More than 10,000 children have been creative with technology in ultra:bit’s innovative competition ‘Crack the Climate Code’.
More than 4,000 teachers have participated in special ultra:bit introduction courses carried out by CFU (The Teachers Resource Center). This initiative continues in the next three years.
Teachers are key to success and ultra:bit offers a wide range of inspiring school materials for free and has cooperated closely with the learning institutions at all times.
In addition, ultra:bit unfolds the BBC micro:bit and technology agenda for parents and everyone else on TV, digital platforms, and in more than 60 libraries across the country.
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ultra:bit is developed by DR (The Danish Broadcast Corporation) in close cooperation with CFU (The Teachers Resource Center) and Astra (The National Center for Science Education).
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It is supported by the Danish Industry Foundation, and more than 30 partners are contributing to the project.
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It was originally inspired by the BBC and the Micro:bit Educational Foundation.