How does the programme support schools?

This element of the programme provides training and support to school leaders to further develop their management and leadership skills in order to manage schools effectively and learn how to integrate and embed digital and core skills across existing national curriculums. School leaders get a chance to work with other peers and exchange information on how to address issues in fast changing technical, economic and social environment.

We have designed two courses for teachers from all participating schools.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Developed for teachers to learn how to improve student self-directed thinking and learning that produces new and innovative ideas. We have prepared a high-quality learning programme for teachers that covers topics such as: how to model critical thinking, how to ask open questions, and how to provide feedback that enables students to solve non-routine problems.

Digital skills

Designed for teachers to gt to grips with the core concepts and practices of digital literacy and how to incorporate these into the curriculum. Teachers learn how to help students understand digital tools and how they can be used meaningfully for effective learning, communicating and collaborating as well as for locating, evaluating and analysing information. Special attention and support is provided to ICT teachers. During the course, teachers receive resources and tools. 

Through the programme, participating schools get access to the following:

Micro:bits

The Micro:bit is a pocket-sized codeable computer with motion detection, a built-in compass and Bluetooth technology, which is given free to every primary school participating in this programme. Computers are specifically designed to give students entry level skills and confidence in computer literacy and coding. Through ‘21st Century Schools’, each participating school receives a number of  Micro:bits to be used by students in ICT classrooms. They can also be used effectively for other school subjects to support student learning.

Resources Coding Clubs

As part of the programme, participating schools receive resources on how to initiate and start Coding Clubs, join international coding challenges and other actions that we are implementing in partnership with other organisations and companies.

Third party resources

In the future, we will invite participating schools will to trial and test new products and services from the British Council and other partners that join this programme in the future. This could include apps, websites and other initiatives.

The programme envisages exchange of experiences and positive practices between all schools that form the 21st Century School Network. This includes collaboration with schools from the same country and other countries of the Western Balkans. All schools are also invited to contribute to the programme of ‘New Technologies in Education’, an annual event. Examples of networking include inter-school coding clubs and the opportunity to contribute to national and Western Balkans-wide policy discussions.

Schools will be invited to national and regional coding competitions where children can display their projects and win valuable awards.