Erasmus+ KA1 application pack: Coding and Robotics for the Youngest: VEX 123 and GO for Ages 4–10 ============================================================ TRAINING PROVIDER ------------------------------------------------------------ Training provider: RoboTech, mag. Oliver Buček (RoboTech STEM Center) Address: Čučkova ulica 5, 2250 Ptuj, Slovenia Erasmus+ Organisation ID (OID): E10436304 Contact person: Oliver Buček, info@robotech.si, +386 70 390 664 Website: https://robotech.si/erasmus ACTIVITY DETAILS ------------------------------------------------------------ Course title: Coding and Robotics for the Youngest: VEX 123 and GO for Ages 4–10 Type of activity: structured course for school education staff (Erasmus+ KA1) Dates: 19–23 July 2027 Venue: RoboTech STEM Center, Čučkova ulica 5, 2250 Ptuj, Slovenia Duration: 5 days, 30 hours of learning activities Language of instruction: English Course page: https://robotech.si/erasmus/coding-and-robotics-for-the-youngest-vex-123-and-go-for-ages-4-10 COURSE DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------ A five-day Erasmus+ course for kindergarten and early primary teachers: introduce coding, sequencing and first robotics to children aged 4 to 10 with VEX 123 and VEX GO, and take ready-to-use activities back to your setting. Target group: Kindergarten teachers, early primary teachers and class teachers (children aged roughly 4–10), teaching assistants, and anyone who wants to bring first coding and robotics activities to the youngest learners. Methodology: The course is learning by doing: roughly two thirds of every day are practical work with VEX 123 and VEX GO kits, in pairs and small international groups, and one third is short input, demonstration and discussion. Participants first take the role of the child, then the role of the teacher: try an activity, reflect with peers, then plan how to adapt it for their own group. They receive activity cards, example lessons and observation sheets they can use directly, and trainers give individual feedback during practical tasks. Digital tools: VEXcode 123 and VEXcode GO for programming, and a shared online folder for materials and group work before, during and after the course. LEARNING OUTCOMES ------------------------------------------------------------ - Explain how play-based robotics supports early maths, language, science and social skills. - Use VEX 123 and VEX GO to run short, safe and engaging coding and building activities with children aged 4 to 10. - Introduce sequencing, loops, conditions and debugging, first without a screen and then with VEXcode 123 and VEXcode GO. - Plan cross-curricular lessons and story-based projects, and adapt them for different ages, abilities and special educational needs. - Observe and assess young learners with simple checklists, photos and portfolios. - Create a concrete implementation plan for their own kindergarten or school and share practice with colleagues from other European countries. PROGRAMME ------------------------------------------------------------ Monday 19 July 2027: Welcome, play-based learning and VEX 123 (09:00–16:00 (lunch 12:30–13:30)) Introductions and tour of RoboTech STEM Center. Why robots work for the youngest learners: play, curiosity and first steps in sequencing. Hands-on with VEX 123: the robot, the cards and tiles, first coding without a screen and the first challenges in the classroom field. Tuesday 20 July 2027: Coding with VEX 123 and VEXcode 123 (09:00–16:00 (lunch 12:30–13:30)) From tangible coding to screen coding: programming 123 with the Coder, then with the simple block-based environment of VEXcode 123. Story-based tasks, sequences, loops and debugging; how to plan a 20 to 30 minute robot activity for a group of 4 to 7 year olds, and how to manage the kits in a busy classroom. Wednesday 21 July 2027: Building and moving with VEX GO (09:00–16:00 (lunch 12:30–13:30)) Building with VEX GO: structures, simple machines and mechanisms with a clear design goal. First driving and moving tasks, measuring, estimating and comparing; linking the building to maths, science and language objectives for ages 6 to 10. Thursday 22 July 2027: Coding and STEM projects with VEXcode GO (09:00–16:00 (lunch 12:30–13:30)) Programming GO robots and sensors in VEXcode GO: blocks, loops, conditions and simple data. Cross-curricular projects: a robot that tells a story, a measurement challenge and a team design task. Adapting the same activity for different ages, abilities and special educational needs. Friday 23 July 2027: Assessment, implementation plans and certificates (09:00–16:00 (lunch 12:30–13:30)) Observing and assessing young learners: checklists, photos, portfolios and feedback that suits early years and early primary education. Each participant presents an activity from the week and prepares a personal implementation plan for their kindergarten or school. Evaluation, next steps, plans for future cooperation and certificates. EUROPEAN DIMENSION AND FOLLOW-UP ------------------------------------------------------------ The course brings together early years and primary teachers from several European countries. Group work is deliberately mixed by country, and time is reserved to compare curricula and early learning practice and to explore ideas for future Erasmus+ cooperation, such as school partnerships and eTwinning projects. The course supports Erasmus+ priorities of digital transformation, inclusion and quality teaching. On the last day each participant prepares a personal implementation plan for their kindergarten or school. After the course you keep access to the shared materials and receive suggestions for next steps, such as extra activity ideas, ways to start a robotics corner and ways to present the course to colleagues. RECOGNITION ------------------------------------------------------------ Every participant receives a certificate of attendance with their name, a short description of the course and its learning outcomes, dates, venue, the name of the training provider and of the trainer. The learning outcomes are written so that the certificate can be used together with Europass. COSTS ------------------------------------------------------------ Fee: €400 per participant (5-day course). EU schools and organisations with a valid VAT ID: reverse charge applies pursuant to Article 44 of EU VAT Directive 2006/112/EC (0% VAT); the amount is €400. Individuals and organisations without a VAT ID: the €400 includes 22% Slovenian VAT. Included in the fee: Training and teaching materials; Use of VEX 123 and VEX GO equipment during the course; Training venue; Coffee breaks and refreshments; Certificate of attendance. Not included: Accommodation; Lunches and dinners; Travel to Ptuj and local transport; Travel and health insurance. Travel and accommodation are not part of the fee. Travel support is calculated from the travel distance with the European Commission distance calculator; ask your National Agency for the current rates. Payment: by invoice to the sending organisation after the course is confirmed (no online payment). Built from the live course data on 3 November 2026. Questions: info@robotech.si