Since 2019, the British Council has been working closely with Colombia’s Ministry of Information, Communication, and Technology (Ministry of ICT) and Ministry of Education to promote computational thinking throughout Colombia. The new initiative, developed in 2023 and known as Colombia Codes, builds on the success of the Coding for Kids programme in Colombia and aims to embed computational thinking and coding into the national education system. Through the establishment of a network of Coding Hubs, Colombia Codes is transforming educational practices by introducing innovative teaching methods and computational thinking strategies, while also reaching rural schools through a separate component developed within the project itself: the unplugged board game Biobots, created by Colombia Codes as a creative tool to make computational thinking accessible and engaging in low-connectivity environments.
Objectives
The primary objective of Colombia Codes is to strengthen students’ computational thinking skills by equipping teachers with the tools and knowledge to integrate coding education into school curricula. The programme aims to reach a large number of schools and teachers, thereby creating a sustainable network of computational thinking advocates who can share their knowledge and practices within the school and with neighbouring institutions.
Programme implementation
The programme works with 420 schools to establish Coding Hubs as key centres for computational thinking instruction. These hubs are equipped to serve as training points for 2,100 STEM teachers, designated as Coding Hub Masters or Expert Peers. These trained educators then share their expertise with neighbouring schools, ultimately impacting 1,260 schools and 10,500 teachers over a period of three years. Through this extensive network, approximately 882,000 students are expected to benefit from improved computational thinking instruction.
“In Colombia, we have been working for a year with the British Council to transform the entire teaching curriculum in terms of computational education… This will truly change Colombia. With the Colombia Codes, we are working for the future of all Colombians”, Mauricio Lizcano, Ministry of ICT
Training and capacity building
The programme hosted 36 face-to-face roundtables with teachers from 427 municipalities nationwide to develop 79 pedagogical guides from grade 0 to 11. These guides covered key concepts and foundational skills in computing and problem-solving using technology. Furthermore, 147 workshops, 281 collaborative meetings, and 11,098 mentorship sessions (both face-to-face and virtual) were conducted to train the expert peers in pedagogical strategies for teaching computational thinking during 2024.
“They have provided us with tools that allow us to focus heavily on problem-solving and project-based learning so that our teaching practices are different, more dynamic, and more engaging for students compared to a traditional theoretical class”, Lorena Vásquez, expert peer from a Coding Hub in Florencia, Caquetá.
Resources and support
To support computational thinking, over 36,000 micro:bits were distributed to 420 Coding Hubs, including many located in rural areas. The project also introduced the GreenCode app and involved six app promoters to support students’ development of computational thinking subskills. Elementary school students participating in the implementation of the “Biobots” board game in rural public schools demonstrated improved skills in algorithmic thinking and pattern recognition.
Impact and outcomes
The programme has led to a significant improvement in computational thinking skills among students. The average scores in related knowledge increased by over 22% in primary students and 16% in secondary students. Additionally, there was a notable rise in students' self-efficacy, reflecting greater confidence in applying computational thinking concepts.
Colombia Codes has also contributed to reducing the technological gap between public and private schools and addressing gender disparities. It has supported the advancement of digital education in Colombia, equipping students with skills needed for the future.
Conclusion
Colombia Codes has significantly contributed to enhancing computational thinking across all educational levels in Colombia. This initiative supports the vision of transforming Colombia into a digitally empowered society, fostering computational thinking as an essential competency for the future, effectively utilising the micro:bit as part of the British Council’s partnership with the Micro:bit Educational Foundation. The partnership between the British Council and the Ministry of ICT highlights the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving sustainable educational development.