Computer science textbook wins the Worlddidac Award
A team from the Centre for Computer Science Education (ABZ) under the direction of Professor Juraj Hromkovic has received the prestigious Worddidac Award for the teaching material "Einfach Informatik 5/6" ("Simply Computer Science 5/6"). The book promotes computer science skills and creative thinking.
Professor Juraj Hromkovic and his team from the Centre for Computer Science Education (ABZ) at ETH Zurich have won the prestigious Worlddidac Award for the textbook "Einfach Informatik 5/6". The series was developed in a collaboration between ABZ and the Klett und Balmer publishing house to introduce computer science to pupils. Co-author Regula Lacher and doctoral student Jacqueline Staub were also involved in its creation.
"Einfach Informatik 5/6" is a teaching aid for the 5th and 6th primary school classes. It consists of two teaching volumes: "Programmieren" and "Lösungen finden" ("Programming" and "Finding solutions"). They serve to support the individual development of the students, such as the promotion of critical thinking and independent learning. The teaching material takes students from the roots of language in ancient times to the principles of encrypting information in online banking. Informatics skills are taught with clear examples and numerous tasks to encourage creative thinking.
"Einfach Informatik 5/6" is intended to create a basic understanding that information consists of a series of symbols – a fundamental principle of computer science. The team does not present ready-made solutions, but goes into their derivation. The approach should be transferable to other subjects and areas.
In addition to "Einfach Informatik 5/6", Hromkovic also co-authored "Einfach Informatik 7/9", a three-part computer science textbook for the schoolyears seven through nine. The project was launched in 2018.
About Prof. Juraj Hromkovic
Juraj Hromkovic has been a professor of Information Technology and Education at the Department of Computer Science at ETH Zurich since 2004. His research interests are in complexity theory, the design of algorithms for severe optimization problems, randomization, communication in networks and didactics of computer science. To promote the introduction of computer science as a school subject in Switzerland, he founded the Centre for Computer Science Education (ABZ) in 2005 and is in charge of teacher training for the teaching diploma in Computer Science at ETH.
About the Worlddidac Award
The prestigious Worlddidac Award, which is presented every two years, is an independent recognition of innovation, quality and practical application of teaching materials. It is the world's highest honour in the education industry and is awarded by the Worlddidac Foundation and the Worlddidac Association. external pageMore