The groups in Szeged have had busy days recently. The SZ2 and SZ1 groups have jointly started a new scientific project.
“We launched the ‘City of the Future’ workshop series at the Csányi Foundation’s Szeged Talent Development Center under the professional guidance of Edtech Hungary. The program aims to help participants come up with solutions to the challenges of the future, starting from the problems of today’s cities, using the methodology of creative pedagogy. With the help of the curriculum, the students engage in urban planning and development processes, where each person has their own tasks and responsibilities. Cooperation is essential, as creating a city can only succeed through collective effort.
In the first session, the students discussed how they imagine the city of the future based on various aspects, such as energy and sustainability. After that, they chose responsibility areas, then gathered information related to their roles, with AI providing assistance. During the sessions, the participants also use modern tools, such as 3D printers, micro:bit microcontrollers, and laser cutters, to build their dream city.
The ‘City of the Future’ project not only develops creativity and collaboration but also broadens the students’ technological knowledge. The experiences and knowledge gained during the program help participants confidently face the challenges of the future and actively contribute to the creation of sustainable cities.”
Regardless of age, everyone found their own interesting approach to the topic, complementing each other’s thoughts and ideas, and we are planning the themes and challenges for the next sessions.
József Tar, developer, Péter Mikics, mentor, István Vidákovics, mentor
This school year, we have tried to align the English lessons of the small group with the themes of the Makers Red Box workshops. To make these activities work together, the English project is called ‘City of the Future,’ where every month we focus on a sub-theme related to the ‘City of the Future’ project, such as the children’s ‘areas of responsibility.’
In October, we explored the theme of housing, where, alongside mastering basic vocabulary (A1-A2 level), we discussed how technology impacts houses, how we can create accessible and barrier-free buildings for everyone, and how we can make construction more economical and environmentally friendly using modular and passive houses.
This month, the focus is on agriculture and food production. We are touching on topics such as the characteristics of precision and ecological farming, and farming methods that will receive more attention in the future, such as hydroponics and vertical farming.
These fascinating topics not only expand the children’s knowledge but also help them increase their basic vocabulary related to the subject. Additionally, through the activities in the lesson, they can develop their language skills while also exercising their creativity. I try to design and organize the games in a way that provides as much target language input as possible, as well as opportunities for the children to communicate in English.
Anna Benczúr, Szeged 2 group
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