Robotics – DSI-4 (12-15 Yrs)

What is next?

Once graduated, students who would like to continue can sign up for the Exceeders Workshop where they are given real-world problems to solve. They select their challenge from list of given projects or they can bring their own project for approval. Students are responsible for research on their project, creating BOM (Bill of Material). We help them get the parts, but they need to create progress reports and track financials of their projects. It is very similar to a Master’s Thesis. Students who complete the workshop are eligible to start the Artificial Intelligence curriculum where they use Python language and Raspberry Pi in combination with Arduino Microcontrollers to create AI projects such as self driving cars, face/speech detection…etc.

A reason to learn Math and Sciences

Robotics uses Numbers, Geometry, Physics and Logic. Many times students are told to learn concepts without really understanding why they are learning them. As an example, fractions do not really have much use for an 8-year-old, or kids that age do not generally need to use multiplication on a day-to-day basis. Robotics, on the other hand, uses numbers and fractions. As an example, if the wheel of a robot turns 5 turns, and 5 turns is not far enough, students typically change to 6 turns. But what if 6 turns is too much? We now hove to use perhaps 5.2 rotations. Since kids want to complete their projects, they opt in to learn the concepts and use them which gives them a visual meaning of numbers.

Enable them to use their power of imagination

Kids in the ages of 7-9 love to imagine. They can build you a spaceship and have all the answers on how it will fly to the moon. We use their imagination and add logic to it. As an example, we ask them to build a simple crane. We then ask them how the crane is supposed to stop when the load is up? Use a sensor that detects the load at the top. The encouragement to see their projects functional is their drive to want to learn the concepts to do it.

Discover their hidden STEM interest and nourish it

Some kids show early signs of interest in Science by asking many related questions, some don’t. Our experience shows the earlier kids are placed in a program that tickles their curiosity, the more interested they become in it. Our job as educators is to give the kids challenges that interest them, then help them plan a solution, let them comfortably try methods they think would work, encourage them when they fail to try a different solution and cheer them on the successful completion of the challenge. Most often when kids believe they are good at something, they will pursue it and it becomes part of their life. The earlier they start before other hobbies (such as gaming) becomes their main interest, the easier it is to create the long-term interest.