Asian and European teachers push coding for kids

14 November 2015
Asian and European teachers push coding for kids
A computer programmer writing Java code. Photo: Wikipedia

About 100 secondary, vocational and high-school teachers and educators from 38 ASEM countries will gather on 16-20 November 2015 in Sofia, Bulgaria, for the 12th ASEF Classroom Network Conference on “Coding for Education”.
Since the inception of the ASEF Classroom Network Conferences in 2001, this 12th edition sees the greatest diversity in Asia-Europe representation, according to a press release issued by ASEF or the Asia-Europe Foundation.
Myanmar is one of many Asian countries that is developing a its coding and software development, catching up after a late start.
The 4-day event will focus on professional enrichment, training opportunities and collaboration sessions for teachers and educators. The programme consists of a Panel Discussion on “Coding, technology and its possible application in the classroom”, with renowned education and ICT experts including Professor Dr Roumiana Petcheva- Forsyth, Professor of Educational Technology, Professor Dr Youngkwon Bae, Professor of Computer Education, and Ms Prapapan Phetra, Project Manager at Opendream, practical workshops on the opportunities of coding in education using open source tools, as well as an Ideas Market Place to find suitable ICT tools for education. Furthermore, the participants will learn about successful case studies in Bulgaria on how to integrate coding and ICT into the school educational curriculum.
The ASEF ClassNet Conference, alternating between Asia and Europe, also provides a platform for teachers to network and initiate Online Collaborations with partner schools. The 6 most successful ASEF ClassNet Online Collaborations of 2015 will compete in Sofia before an independent jury for the ASEF ClassNet Awards.
Ms Leonie Nagarajan, Director of ASEF’s Education Department, emphasised the importance of the ASEF ClassNet Conferences: “To date, the ASEF ClassNet has engaged more than 19,000 students and 1,300 teachers from Asia and Europe in more than 300 Online Collaborations. The ASEF ClassNet is one of the most effective and sustainable  forums for exchange and dialogue for teachers and students collaboration between Asia and Europe and raises awareness about both continents at an early age.”
ASEF organises the 12th ASEF Classroom Network Conference in cooperation with the 32 Secondary Language School “St. Kliment Ohridski”, a long-term ASEF ClassNet member. The Conference is supported by the Sofia Municipality, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria.