Building Computational Competencies

Computational competencies, critical thinking and problem-solving are essential to navigate in our increasingly digitised and innovative world. Research shows that these skills – just like creativity and an independent, sustainability-oriented mindset – are nowadays relevant already for children to thrive. Furthermore, the majority of opportunities in the future will require some knowledge of technical skills such as computer programming, data science or hardware design. Based on this rationale, PYP started the Guild program for building computational competencies. It is a 1-year program consisting of a compulsory 6-month computational class and an extendable apprenticeship of 6-18 months, for students between the ages of 9-20.  In the former, called the Guild Learners course, students are provided with the opportunity to learn computer literacy skills – particularly in programming languages like Python, C and JavaScript – alongside Mathematical and Creative Thinking skills. During the apprenticeship, students delve into their domain of interest, learn to be tutors, and leaders and subsequently become skilled to manage their own groups to work on projects.

The program objectives cover a broad spectrum in multiple areas – on a personal and societal level. The central aspect is the personal growth of the participating students, covering a distinct set of soft and hard skills. These include:

• Technical skills: The goal is to teach children the (digital) skills for success. By exposing them to various programming languages, the students learn different software methodologies and understand the universal basics which most programming languages have in common.
• Diverse thinking: By bringing the students in contact with various ways of thinking (e.g. computational, mathematical/logic, scientific, creative, critical etc.) and helping them explore and apply the respective concepts to solve problems, they become more comfortable and self-confident.
• Teamwork and collaborative efforts: The students learn to share responsibilities and collaborate, sorting out differences along the way and moving towards a common goal.

The program is built upon the idea of education being a 4-step-model:

Explore – Discover – Imagine – Create

It is our personal belief that one stage cannot take place without the preceding one. As a consequence, the goal is to enable children and young adults to start their climb on the education ladder. The Guild program will focus on the first two elements on this path, explore and discover. The program provides the environment required for children to make their own experiences and learn by doing. Most importantly, this approach allows us to support personal development of children and young adults. Upon completion of the program, the students have the ability and the freedom to imagine, create and express.

In 2021, we set up a facility equipped with internet, and computers donated by ETH Zurich, where children and youths in the community can come to learn and gain these digital skills. Persons from low income households between the age of 9 and 15 receive scholarships to participate in the program and gain access to PYP’s curated digital curriculum and resources. A report of the 2021/2022 program can be found here.

Are you interested in funding this project? Check our fundraiser here