Coding for our Future in Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye

On 14 June 2025, a hands-on teacher training workshop titled “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with BBC micro:bit” was held at Soydan Business Hotel in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. The event brought together 11 teachers for a two-hour session combining informative presentations and practical coding activities. It was supported with a grant from Science on Stage Germany's Coding for our Future project which aims to promote professional development for STEM teachers in the field of coding and AI.

The workshop began with a welcome and introduction, followed by a session from Mehmet Yıldız, who introduced Science on Stage Europe and shared opportunities for educators across the continent. Next, Semih Esendemir, content leader of the Save Our Nature project, introduced the BBC micro:bit, explaining its basic functions, control structures, and sensor capabilities. Participants engaged in hands-on practice, gaining foundational programming skills.

The second half of the workshop was led by Dr. Selçuk Yusuf Arslan, a Science on Stage Europe Ambassador, who introduced the concept of machine learning and demonstrated the Create AI platform. Teachers trained a model on three physical action – walking, jumping, and standing still – and then tested it using micro:bit.

The participants, a mixed group of prospective teachers and STEM teachers from different school types, were happy with the insights and learnings gained in the workshop. "Teacher-centered education is no longer beneficial for either students or teachers," one of them said. "Participatory learning approaches motivate students much more."

Report: Mehmet Yıldız