Information technology – whether in mobile phones, cars or washing machines – is ubiquitous and permeates our lives. Everyone uses it, but few understand the basic principles behind how it works.

To address this shortcoming and, at the same time, increase the proportion of qualified graduates in Computing Science and technical degree programmes and professions, the ‘Computing Science with Technical Aspects’ (InTech) project has been launched. Through the subject of Computing Science, pupils are to acquire IT and technical knowledge, whilst their IT-related thinking and problem-solving skills are fostered.

Between 2005 and 2008, the first ‘InTech’ phase was carried out at six grammar schools in Lower Saxony, initiated by Vera Reineke of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs and Prof. Dr Eckart Modrow, Department of Computing Science Education at the University of Göttingen, who also took on the coordination of the project. Further information on the first ‘InTech’ round can be found on this website of the NiedersachsenMetall Foundation and in the InTech brochure.

The subsequent second phase of the project, running from August 2009 to December 2012, consisted of two sub-projects, which were also implemented by the University of Göttingen and, additionally, by the University of Oldenburg. During this project period, teachers from 13 schools in the Weser-Ems region (grammar schools, as well as one comprehensive school and one secondary school) worked together with subject specialists from the University of Oldenburg to develop, amongst other things, a range of teaching materials. These working group meetings took place regularly, approximately every 6–8 weeks, at the University of Oldenburg and the participating schools. In addition, professional development sessions on Computing Science content and the pedagogy of Computing Science were organised at the University of Oldenburg as required, with the involvement of students. The teaching materials developed will ultimately be published online and through further teacher training initiatives.

Accompanying academic research is evaluating the success of the InTech project and is intended to ensure that subsequent projects can benefit from the findings.

The project was funded by the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, the NORDMETALL employers’ association and the foundation of the Association of the Metal and Electrical Industry (VME). It ran for three years, from 1 August 2009 to 31 December 2012.

A brief description of the InTech project, along with some of its findings and experiences, can be found in the InTech leaflet.

Do you have any questions about the InTech project? If so, please send an email to:

• 13.03.2010: Robot tournament in Damme town hall
  

• 12.06.2010: InTech Cup at the University of Oldenburg
  

• 02.07.2011: InTech-Cup at the Herbartgymnasium
  

• 14.07.2012: InTech Cup at Bad Zwischenahn-Edewecht grammar school
  

• 15.06.2013: InTech Cup at Damme grammar school
  

• 08.03.2010: Comprehensive school Schinkel

• 31.05.2010: Altes Gymnasium Oldenburg