"Code connects generations – programming and robotics for the whole community" initiative in Latvia

Digital skills development activities in Latvia take place in all regions involving several generations. One such initiative, led by the Zemgale Secondary School of Tukums Municipality, is "Code connects generations – programming and robotics for the whole community". It has promoted the development of digital competencies across different age groups and strengthened cooperation between generations.

Robotics and programming workshops for students of various ages

• Working in teams, primary school students from 1st to 3rd grade learned the basics of algorithmic thinking by solving tasks with Indi robots. These activities fostered logical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

• At the lower secondary level, students combined programming with engineering skills in the workshops. Using the Scratch environment, they programmed games while also building joystick devices with WeDo 2.0 kits to control their Scratch characters. The students not only acquired new skills but also designed tasks themselves and prepared workshops for their parents and grandparents.

• Preschool children were also involved in the project activities. They explored the computer lab and gained their first experience working with educational robots.

• Students led workshops for their parents, demonstrating their newly acquired knowledge and skills. This fostered mutual understanding and showcased the students' ability to become knowledge sharers.

• Additionally, students and a teacher from the Spanish school IES San Vicente visited Zemgale Secondary School. This international cooperation enriched the students' experience and fostered intercultural communication.

• Students from the robotics group also led a special workshop for seniors from the Slampe Senior Society "Golden Autumn". During the session, they presented their creative work in the Scratch environment and demonstrated the capabilities of WeDo 2.0 robots. Under the guidance of the students, the seniors learned the basic principles of robot design and programming, creating a positive and inspiring experience for everyone involved.

At the end of the project, an exhibition was organized at the school, where students presented their robotics projects, demonstrating the skills and creative solutions acquired throughout the project.

A total of 160 participants were involved in the project, including 118 students (72 girls and 46 boys), as well as 42 parents and seniors.

Throughout the EU CodeWeek project, Zemgale Secondary School successfully brought together multiple generations, from preschoolers to grandparents, proving that robotics and programming can build a strong sense of community. The project highlighted that digital skills have the power to unite people across ages and nationalities, fostering collaboration, creativity, and a passion for learning.

Thanks to the project, the school's robotics club has expanded its equipment with next-generation kits — two LEGO Education SPIKE Essential and two LEGO Education SPIKE Prime sets. This will allow students to develop their programming and engineering skills even more effectively moving forward.

See more photos and videos.

This was one of the initiatives supported by the Code4Europe project. In Latvia, the Code4Europe project is implemented by the Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association (LIKTA).

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The activities of the Code4Europe project are funded by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA), Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL), project No. 101158834 — Code4Europe.