Project “Algorithmic Thinking Skills through Play-Based Learning for Future's Code Literates”

Project “Algorithmic Thinking Skills Through Play-Based Learning for Future's Code Literates” (ALGO-LITTLE) is funded by the Erasmus+ program KA2. The project coordinator is the İzmir Demokrasi University with a project team of experts in the fields of robotics, developers for interactive learning platforms, and preschool education experts from Turkey, Portugal, Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia. The main goal of the project is to prepare a program and teaching material to teach undergraduate students how to develop algorithmic thinking skills in all areas of preschool education so they can integrate them into music, art, mathematic, drama, science, and all activities included in early childhood living and learning. This project aims to offer the opportunity to acquire ICT-oriented skills and thus directly influence the modern skills of undergraduate students of Early and Preschool Education. The emphasis is on teaching children through play about the new “literacy of the future” in which algorithmic thinking is predominantly expressed. The paper describes the context and reasons for initiating the project, planned intellectual results, project activities, and its expected impact. The most important activities include preparing and developing curricula., interactive animated presentations, and workshops, and piloting the implementation of courses in the spring semester of 2022.