Computational Thinking Programme – Malta

The Computational Thinking Programme, a collaborative effort between the Directorate for Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills and the eSkills Malta Foundation, represents a strategic initiative currently in its pilot phase, implemented in 10 Maltese State Primary schools, one from each college.

At its core, this programme has two primary objectives. The first is establishing a sustainable educational framework spanning the entire spectrum of Primary Education, starting with kindergarten classes and progressively targeting specific learning outcomes in subsequent school years. This ensures that computational thinking becomes an integral part of the students’ educational journey from the very beginning. The second objective is to make computational thinking and coding activities a sound aspect of school culture. Instead of sporadic efforts, these skills will become a fundamental and ever-present part of students’ learning experience.

The Computational Thinking Programme places significant emphasis on providing both educators and learners with crucial skills. Equip educators with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to effectively integrate computational thinking into their teaching practices, thereby empowering learners to develop their computational thinking competences. In addition, students actively engage in the programme, and acquire problem-solving skills that allow them to break down complex challenges into more manageable tasks, by logically arranging them. In addition, they cultivate logical and rational thinking, which lays a solid foundation for making informed decisions and resolving complex issues, and ensures that they are well prepared for a successful life.

The programme includes:

Training sessions offered by the respective providers: Between October 2022 and January 2023, a series of hands-on training sessions were conducted by the respective providers. Education Officers (Curriculum), the Primary Digital Literacy Support Team, school coordinators, as well as two educators from each participating primary school attended these engaging training sessions. During these training sessions, participants became more familiar with the concepts of Composite Thinking and Learning Outcomes. These sessions helped educators improve their ability to effectively integrate Computational Thinking concepts into classroom environments.

Provision of resources: Through the collaboration with eSkills Malta Foundation, the resources were procured following thorough market research and received procurement approval from MEYR. These resources were provided to the participating schools.

Curriculum Alignment: The programme includes the mapping of computational thinking and coding activities to the curriculum, and ensures that they align with the educational goals and standards of the primary school system.

Field support: The Primary Digital Literacy Support Team provides continuous on-site support during classroom activities and Curriculum Time sessions. This support aims to facilitate the smooth integration of computational thinking into the educational process.

Inheritance: The Comprehensive Thinking Programme has a broad vision that extends beyond the boundaries of the classroom. It seeks to cultivate a mindset among students, one that values curiosity, adaptability and resilience. This mentality empowers them to thrive in a rapidly changing world, where the ability to adapt and solve new problems is paramount.

Through partnerships with various stakeholders, the programme also aspires to fundamentally transform education itself. The aim is to integrate computational thinking into curricula, thereby redesigning the very foundation of the education system. This change not only prepares students for the digital age but also ensures that education aligns with the needs of an ever-evolving world, effectively putting the next generation to success.