British Council and local lokalna ministries of education, with funding from the UK government, organized second online coding challenge for elementary schools. The expert jury selected the 7 best works from all submitted, after which the final video conference was held.

The winning project is called „Brinemo o sebi i drugima“ and was created by students Ishak Rahimić and Norah Marić, under the mentorship of teachers Belma Selimotić and Elvisa Boškailo. The winners, visibly excited, said after the competition that they were extremely glad to have won, and that they hoped that their project would help their school, but also the wider community.
The second place was won by the elementary school "Suljo Čilić" from Jablanica, and the third by the elementary school "Bijelo Polje" from Mostar.

Read more about the winning projects and their goals below:

IV elementary school, Mostar - first place "Brinemo o sebi i drugima"

The project is based on current epidemiological issues and the creative challenge of finding a possible solution using micro: bit with the aim of improving hygienic-epidemiological conditions in the environment in which the teaching process takes place, but also in the immediate community. Potential beneficiaries of the project are primary school students (1st to 5th grade), subject students (6th to 9th grade) and teaching staff, school management and professional service, school technical staff and others. The idea of the project is to influence the epidemiological awareness, health and hygiene habits of individuals in the community and to raise awareness of the importance of using disinfectants, especially in this period.

What does the project do and how?

At each entrance to the school building, there is a dispenser with disinfectant. A prototype project consisting of a micro: bit with a program code that counts the pressures is installed on the device, and when pressed at the marked place, the number increases by one and is displayed on the LED screen of the micro:bit.

Micro:bit is utilization as an indicator, an indicator of the number of disinfectants used in a given period of time to determine consumption and supply during a pandemic. Micro: will also be used as an indicator of awareness of health habits and health responsibility of primary school students in the community.

Elementary school Suljo Čilić, Jablanica - second place "Pametni semafor"

The purpose of the project is to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution in Jablanica. This project would help all drivers on the Konjic-Mostar route who sometimes wait for 15 minutes at traffic lights in Jablanica. Both humans and animals will inhale at least a little less polluted air, so everyone will be happier.

What does the project do and how?

We recorded and documented everything. We talked and concluded. We made a model of the intersection where we set up traffic lights printed on a 3D printer. In our project, 3 microbits connected by radio regulate the operation of traffic lights while Mbot robots act as vehicles and show the purpose of our project and how it should function. In addition, we set up automatic lighting, a micro:bit that turns the lighting on and off based on the light intensity.

The change achieved by the project is: Faster transport and traffic on the M-17 road. Lower air pollution rate in Jablanica. This also reduces global pollution, as vehicles will arrive at their destination sooner.

Elementary school Bijelo Polje, Potoci Mostar - third place "SmartBox (Smart Mobile Classroom)"

Inclusion of new technologies in the teaching process as an aid in the realization of teaching, especially in extraordinary circumstances such as the current Covid pandemic 19.

Teachers, with the help of laptops, projectors and smart boards, present the teaching units to the students and involve them in the work. In this way, teaching takes place in an interactive way and in this way students see the content from other perspectives because they themselves are involved in planning the class in which they will be use SmartBox.

In the future, SmartBox should affect the quality of teaching in our school, but also in other schools where this project will be implemented.

What does the project do and how?

Our SmartBox project facilitates teaching in difficult circumstances, especially during a pandemic when classroom teaching is not allowed, so we wanted to solve this problem with a SmartBox that would turn any classroom into a smart classroom where students could use devices that are used in most subjects. found in this SmartBox.

Students themselves need to figure out how to use the devices that are part of the SmartBox, while the teacher is someone who directs and coordinates the work of students in class. This type of teaching proved to be very effective and interesting for students.

With the help of laptops, students can additionally research on the Internet about the teaching units that are processed in class, as well as make presentations, videos, papers, etc.

Using the camera, students take videos and photos to use for school projects.

Micro:bit – The mini computer, which is part of the SmartBox, is used in computer science classes, where students are introduced to the basic functions of micro: bits and block programming.

Micro:bit is used in physical education classes where students make a pedometer with the help of a teacher.

Micro:bit used in music education classes where students compose music and listen with the help of micro: bits and speakers.

Micro:bit is used in Islamic religious education classes where students make a compass so that they can determine the direction of the Kaaba and for random selection of tasks to repeat the material.

Micro:bit is used in biology classes where a thermometer is made so that the temperature in the room where the plants are located can be regulated.

In her introductory address to the audience, project manager, Amila Karavdić said: „The enthusiasm and hard work of our participants today, as well as all participants in the School's program for the 21st century during this extraordinary pandemic period, is commendable. We are truly proud of all the teachers and students who are achieving great results within our Program. They introduce innovative methods of critical thinking, problem solving and coding with the help of micro: bit devices in their classrooms and everyday work and thus prepare students for future education and the labor market.“ She also thanked the members of the jury, Kenan Zekić, Aleksandar Mastilović and Matea Markić Vučić, for their presence.

The competition was also attended by the British Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, N.E. Matthew Field, who also had the honour of declaring the winners. Ambassador Field congratulated the winners, but also all the participants in this competition: „You worked as a team. You have paired your imagination with knowledge and digital skills. You have crossed the path traversed by all innovators and used new skills to turn your ideas into something new and fascinating. At the same time, you have answered some of the problems from your environment and made your surroundings a little better place to live. The world will always need people who know how to solve problems and who think critically.“
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