In Latvia, there has been a significant shortage of qualified teachers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) for several years, particularly in the areas of programming and digital skills. This issue is notable not only in Latvia but also in many other European and global countries. One of the main reasons for this is the rapid development of technology, which has resulted in the education system being unable to prepare teachers at such a pace for the digital and rapidly changing era. Additionally, fewer young people choose to pursue a career in teaching after high school. According to statistics, the number of students training for teacher qualifications has significantly decreased over the last three years.
Specifically in Latvia, due to the aforementioned problems, thousands of students remain partially or entirely uneducated in the mentioned areas, which undoubtedly affects their competitiveness and future career prospects, leading to the loss of many potential specialists in exact sciences and technology professions. This problem is even more pronounced in the rural areas of the country. Does this mean that students should be left without any opportunity to learn these subjects?
The solution introduced by the Latvian educational technology company Datorium is a modern, technology-based education now implemented in 89 state schools, effectively teaching about 5000 students each week. This project is unique in Europe and successfully addresses the shortage of qualified digital skills, programming, and STEM teachers by using its own educational technologies and unique teaching methods within the framework of national education standards. Datorium’s teaching method is based on a hybrid education model, increasingly popular in Europe, which involves an effective combination of face-to-face and online delivery. Additionally, a unique gamification method is used, significantly increasing student engagement and motivation for studies, while combining their online and offline presence.
The essence of the Datorium solution lies in technology that captures various aspects of student learning and engagement. This includes interactive engagement, online participation, teamwork, and immediate feedback from students. Such modern approaches would not be possible without technology, and hence, the Datorium team has developed a unique bot that automatically supports teachers throughout their teaching process. The innovative system uses the tokenization concept, automatically awarding tokens or points to students for each education-related activity.
To date, the project has shown excellent results, engaging and educating approximately 10,000 students over three years, mainly in programming and digital skills. Additionally, about 220 teachers are involved in the project, thereby enhancing their digital and modern educational technology skills. Datorium has intensively supported the digital proficiency of teachers and their ability to apply it in the educational process. In the last six months alone, the company has trained 800 teachers across Latvia on the effective use of artificial intelligence in education, aiming to increase teacher productivity. The company also developed Latvia’s first artificial intelligence teacher assistant tool, generating quality educational materials in various subjects according to Latvian education standards.
It should be noted that Datorium’s educational technology is also gradually being recognized at the European level. In 2023, the company successfully completed the European Commission’s digital education accelerator, EU Digital Education Accelerator, where it was selected as one of the six most promising EdTech projects in Europe. That year, Datorium also shared its experience at Finland’s largest educational event, Educa, meeting with Finland’s Minister of Education.
This year, Datorium was invited to share its experience on the stage of Europe’s largest educational technology exhibition in London at UK Bett 2024, and at the Netherlands’ largest event of this type, IPON 2024. The company supports youth in various competitions and hackathons, and continues to create new innovations, organizing various technology events such as Datorium Tech Stage, which is the largest technology event for youth in Latvia, as well as hackathons, games, and summer camps. Datorium actively represents such European Commission initiatives as EU CodeWeek and DigiEduHack.
Looking to the future, Datorium remains committed to its mission to ensure access to quality STEM education for every student in Latvia, as well as to support teachers in this educational field. Experience and recognition confirm that digital education is not only a path to individual development and well-being but also to national competitiveness in global markets.
