Atlantic schools are Techport schools
"Teacher, this was the most fun lesson ever!" and "Teacher, thank you so much for teaching me this. Meanwhile, students run out of the classroom after an Engineering and Science lesson. Annelies de Klerk, grade 7 teacher at an elementary school, continues, "The world around us is changing rapidly. Just look at the energy transition. Solar panels. Electric driving. Many innovations from future technicians are needed. Children learn creative and problem-solving thinking through engineering education. We try to get them excited about the world of engineering and science. All groups 6, 7 and 8 visit the Tata Steel Academy, and follow different programs and are introduced to sustainability, robotics, design and physics.'
IJmond breathes technology. Technology is now also offered at many schools, making it possible to get a technical education in the region. Companies in the IJmond region are facing a shortage of technicians and an aging population, which means that specific technological knowledge is disappearing. The rise of the fourth industrial revolution is the new reality: robotization, digitization, big data and artificial intelligence. As a result, education is in danger of becoming less and less compatible with technological knowledge and skills required by companies.
Since the beginning of this year, all Atlant schools have become Techport schools. In doing so, Techport offers these schools a broad activity program. And together with Techport, Vakkanjers Junior was created. Students from grade 7 and 8 are going to solve a real problem facing the business world. It is a competition, but the solution must be realistic and achievable. 'The cooperation still has to grow, because we are just Techport school. But that's going to be totally fine,' concludes Annelies.