Robotics and learning how to code is now a buzz!
Fast growing edtech start-ups are all up to improve education system and make Students future ready. Also, since technology and science is advancing at a rapid pace, tremendous pressure is thrust upon education stakeholders to integrate STEM and 21st century skills. There is a lot of hype going around teaching students how to code and add robotics into the curriculum. Experts believe, it is possibly the first step towards teaching students the different forms of STEM at the same time exercise 21’st century skills in exciting and most effective ways.
With technology evolving so rapidly, the step to integrate technology be it robotics and coding needs to be thoughtful and seamless. Successful technology integration does not only indicate getting the tools in the classroom, there is more to it and this is what we will be discussing in the piece by introducing the steps to integrating technologies such like robotics and coding in the classroom. Take a quick look at it one by one!
1. Start Small to Scale Up to the Bigger Ladder
It is very important to start with small initiatives and once the process is all set to scale up to the next level, taking it off to a larger scale, the going gets easier. Needless to say, getting the start can be quite an intimidating process in terms of financial and otherwise, however once the initial step is taken, the later course of action is no more an intimidating process any longer.
Sometimes there is a lot of scope to do things on a tiny budget and start with small initiatives. May you try up by buying one robot, start with the online coding or set-up a small club to get small things happening and then build it from there. This exposure to robotics can be a great eye opener to children and it can be right on line. By building robotics program and developing curriculum in that line, you will be preparing students for a future which is predicted to be increasingly focused on science, technology, math and engineering (STEM).
2. Provide Students an Exposure to Progressive Technology
Students can be exposed to many progressively more complicated robots and coding opportunities. The more they are exposed to new robots and coding activities, they are likely to get direct input of the code into the robot. Say robots that require block coding to guide their movements and allow students to get exposed to more sophisticated movement opportunities for them to have a control on it.
Given a chance to the students to explore different kinds of robots, they take up basic ideas and start working on to expand whatever comes up their way and work to improve it.
3. Integrate into the wider Classroom
The Makerspaces is the experimental lab where you need to find things that work and perhaps also figure out ways to integrate the robots into a lesson. Once done, the learning can be transferred to the classroom.
Say if you are looking out to start off with activities that revolves around design thinking, the possible challenge which one is likely to encounter is that of design challenges. At this point of time, what we had discussed before about experimenting it on makerspace will roll out good for you to integrate activities into the classroom.
4. Using Student Tech Ambassadors
Robotics and coding programs can arouse student’s interest and this is what you need to tap and use it for their growth. If they like and enjoy the program, write it down that you do not have to put in much effort to trigger their interest but will find them become its ambassador for the program.
So give them the freedom and just tap into what they enjoys doing and guide them or show them on how to use coding and they will be all into using it to bring their ideas to life. The idea is to not tell but may be simply show how you are doing and let them imagine and innovate on their own.
Robotics is a wonderful things and all students will enjoy learning it when hands-on learning is practiced. With robotics curriculum, students can get a lot more charged up and start bringing in their own problems-solving ideas, may be discuss them with peers and get back to refining those ideas and working together.
So, are you all up to integrate robotics and coding technology in the classroom through careful planning? Or have you already tried it in other ways which turned out really successful? In either case, please let us know your views and share your experience with the others who are gearing up to integrate this new technology into the STEM lesson plans.
