Advancing gender-inclusive and authentic Informatics education through the TINKER MOOC

The TINKER project, in collaboration with Scientix®, launched the “Teach Informatics Using Authentic Learning and Gender Inclusion” MOOC on 23 March 2026.  Running until 29 April 2026, the course brought together more than 1200 participants from 67 countries from Europe and beyond to explore gender-inclusive and authentic approaches to teaching informatics.

Designed for pre-service and in-service informatics and STEM teachers, non-formal educators, and Educational Technology professionals, the course offered participants from diverse educational backgrounds relevant content and practical value throughout their learning journey. Across four modules, participants explored the TINKER framework and toolkit, engaged in online activities, and interacted with a range of learning materials designed to support both reflection and classroom practice. Through these activities, as well as two live online events, learners explored the current state of informatics education in Europe, discovered practical gender-inclusive teaching strategies, and were guided in designing and assessing authentic, inclusive informatics learning scenarios.

The course outcomes highlighted the value of the learning experience. Participants reported greater confidence in applying gender-inclusive and authentic learning approaches in informatics education, as well as a stronger ability to reflect on and further develop their own teaching practice. Many also shared their intention to integrate the course ideas, strategies, and examples into their everyday teaching, supporting more inclusive and engaging learning experiences for their students. One of the participants mentioned:

“ What I enjoyed most about this course was its strong connection between informatics, authentic learning, and inclusion. I especially appreciated how the course encouraged us to think about coding and digital skills not as isolated technical topics, but as tools for solving meaningful real-world problems. I also found the focus on gender-inclusive teaching very valuable, because it pushed me to reflect more deeply on participation, classroom roles, and how to make STEM learning more equitable and engaging for all students.”

A considerable number of participants successfully completed the course by designing and submitting their own learning scenario and taking part in peer review, offering constructive feedback on the work of their fellow participants.

Although the live edition of the MOOC has now concluded, the course remains accessible through the European Schoolnet Academy platform. Check out the course content: Teach informatics using authentic learning and gender inclusion | European Schoolnet Academy, and get inspired to create more inclusive and authentic learning experiences!