Power up your digital skills: Hands on with Robotics- a collaboration between SfCE and the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA)
Last week concluded the after-school programme-“Power up your digital skills: Hands on with Robotics!”, attended by sixty students from Years 5, 6, and 7. The initiative sought to bolster digital literacy and innovation in these young learners through the practical application of robot programming.
This initiative could not have materialised without the generosity and collaboration of St Michael Schol Sta Venera and St Paul’s Missionary College Rabat, which opened their computer labs and resources to this programme.
The programme, designed by Mr Reuben Borg, Head of Department for Computing and ICT at the SfCE, and implemented by four dedicated tutors, went beyond basic computer literacy, focusing on 21st-century transversal skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration. Students in fact engaged with block programming, digital word processing, and presentation skills within a project based approach with a problem-solving methodology which all students found engaging and meaningful.
A primary goal of this collaboration was to foster ethical and responsible citizenship while advocating for accessibility and inclusion in the digital age. Both the SfCE and MDIA have expressed a mutual commitment to addressing the human implications of digital change, including privacy rights, dignity, and well-being. Notably, the programme took proactive steps to encouraging participation by girls by ensuring that an equal ratio of boys to girls were selected at registration phase.
During the last session, in addition to student presentations, parents attended an informative talk by the MDIA on online safety. The session offered researched, practical tips for maintaining a healthy digital balance, emphasizing the importance of relationships of trust and responsible oversight within the family structure. During the certificate presentation, each student identified the gap in their digital competence that was addressed by the sessions- these ranged from file management to presentation skills and some even mastered refined programming skills.
SFCE wishes to thank MDIA for its financial support but moreover for the strong collaborative and collegial spirit that made this project possible and for supporting the educational aims of the programme.