Celebrating EU Code Week: Coding at Primary School Matija Gubec in Cernik, Croatia

Publication date: November 25, 2024

During this year’s EU Code Week, communities across the continent were brimming with creativity and innovation through coding activities. Among the participants was the Primary School “Matija Gubec” in Cernik, Croatia, which hosted a vibrant program titled Whole Cernik Codes. This initiative brought together students from kindergarten to primary school, as well as senior citizens, to explore coding, digital literacy, and artificial intelligence. The event not only fostered computational thinking but also showcased how technology can unite generations and spark a shared curiosity for the digital world.

One of the many engaging activities was My Humanoid Animated Robot, where fourth-grade students delved into programming, robotics, and AI. They explored what makes robots different from humans, sparking critical thinking about technology’s role in society. The students then brought their creative ideas to life by designing and animating unique robots through a web application. This hands-on experience seamlessly blended creativity and computational skills, producing delightful animated projects that reflected their imagination.

Seventh-grade students took their coding skills to new heights with activities that introduced them to practical AI applications. They learned about chatbots, programming systems that simulate human conversation. These budding coders explored popular chatbot examples and created their ow

n, designed to answer frequently asked questions while navigating discussions about privacy and ethical considerations. In another activity, students developed translation tools using Pictoblox’s text-to-speech and translation extensions. These projects combined coding and language learning, enabling students to build apps that translated and vocalised text. This exploration of AI’s role in language technologies offered both a technical and linguistic learning experience. They also explored facial recognition technology, programming an app capable of detecting emotions on faces. This activity not only highlighted AI’s practical applications but also prompted thoughtful conversations about privacy and the responsible use of technology.

Eighth-grade students showcased their creativity by designing clicker games in Scratch, combining math concepts with interactive programming. Through variable manipulation and conditional statements, they crafted engaging games complete with vibrant visuals and sound effects. Meanwhile, fifth-grade students used FMS Logo to code intricate shapes and patterns. This activity introduced them to the basics of loops, variables, and procedures, encouraging logical thinking while allowing for artistic expression.

The school’s engagement with global initiatives was equally impressive. Three teams from grades six through eight participated in the international Coding4Mandela challenge, an unplugged coding competition emphasising teamwork and problem-solving. Among the participants, the team LABGirls achieved a remarkable second place in Europe, showcasing their skill and determination on the international stage. Read more about this on our blog post here.

Younger students from the kindergarten were not left out of the coding excitement. Through unplugged activities like storytelling and movement-based games, the children learned foundational concepts of algorithmic thinking in a playful and approachable manner. Guided by their teachers, they took their first steps into the world of programming, setting a strong foundation for future learning.

Even senior citizens from the Cernik community joined the coding journey. Workshops tailored for them introduced AI applications in everyday life, such as tools for communication and problem-solving. These sessions bridged the generational gap, empowering participants to interact with technology confidently.

Additional unplugged activities for lower primary grades emphasised creative and tactile learning. From coding with Legos to drawing, storytelling, and dancing, these sessions brought coding concepts to life in relatable ways, making them accessible and fun for young learners.

The Whole Cernik Codes initiative was a shining example of how coding and AI can inspire and connect people of all ages. From animated robots to translation tools and unplugged games, the program celebrated creativity, innovation, and the boundless possibilities of technology. By preparing students and community members for a digitally transformed future, the Primary School “Matija Gubec” demonstrated the power of education to unite, inspire, and empower.

For more details about EU Code Week activities at their school, visit https://bit.ly/eucodeweek2024.

Prepared by Kristina Slišurić, Leading Teacher