Technocamps led by Swansea University has now teamed up with the Universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Glyndwr, the University of South Wales and Cardiff Metropolitan University to deliver this much needed project from next week.

Huw Lewis, Minister for Education and Skills said:

“Digital technology is only going to play an increasingly prominent role in all of our lives.  If our future generations are going to be fully proficient using this new technology it’s important that their teachers are equally comfortable with it. 

“That’s why we are pleased to invest in projects such as Technocamps, offering continuing professional development and raising skills levels – two of our key priorities, to ensure we are able to take advantage of the full range of benefits that digital technology has to offer.     

The project will up-skill teachers by providing a taster session to a group of their pupils in a variety of different technologies, including LEGO Mindstorms, Scratch and Python. This will be through hands on practical teaching methods that they will then be able to transfer to the classroom.

After the session teachers will be encouraged to enhance their skills even further by signing up to additional CPD training provided for free by Technocamps at one of their University hubs.

Professor Faron Moller, Director of Technocamps at Swansea University, said, ‘I am delighted that this funding has come to fruition allowing Technocamps to broaden teachers’ expertise across the whole of Wales.

"Over the past four years, Technocamps has delivered inspirational computing workshops to over 10,000 young people from 170 comprehensive schools across West Wales and the Valleys, as well as 50 primary schools throughout South West Wales. As computing and digital literacy become ever a greater part of the school curriculum in Wales, this new activity will provide much needed encouragement and training in computer science to their teachers."