We’re sad to see National Robotics Week near its end, but just remember that doesn’t mean that learning with robotics has to! If you ask us, robotics in the classroom should be a year-round thing—after school and during the summer even—not just for one week or so in April! We’ll try to give you some ideas for how you can achieve this and help start the excitement for next year!
Kids Love National Robotics Week
National Robotics Week is now in its seventh year and, as awesome as that is, the movement that is robotics in education continues to gain STEAM! This year, it is estimated that, when all is said and done, there will have been over 250 organized events to take place in all 50 states. Above all else, Robotics Week is an official time for those in the STEM education field to take a step back and watch as inexpensive yet highly collaborative robots immerse kids deeper into learning. Teaching them anything from programming to coding skills, these tiny robots are everywhere. And kids love it.
Without even realizing it, there are probably a few robots in your general vicinity right now. New kinds of robots are constantly being created and, thankfully, most of today’s students can’t wait to learn all about them. Whether it’s a large, walking, talking robot or one that’s almost microscopic, robotics has a way of connecting teachers and students as they collaboratively explore the principles that guide working machinery. Robotics is, perhaps, extra special for kids with learning disabilities. Whether they are unable to travel to school or just lack a little bit of focus in the classroom, robots are there to help engage them while teaching them invaluable skills in a hands-on way.
National Robotics Week was started as a vehicle to raise awareness on the importance of STEM education. As is the case throughout most of the year, the passionate robotics community rallies around kids and the creative masterpieces they assemble. Not only are they learning, but kids grow to feel like a true part of the community through fun programs like this. It’s always fun to see who can come up with the wackiest or most viable working robot without the pressure of earning a passing grade. Robotics simply give kids a chance to demonstrate their creativity and learn and (important) thing or two about getting comfortable with hands-on technology.
Robotics Across the Elementary Curriculum
One of the reasons robotics is so awesome in the K-12 world is because it can fit anywhere in the curriculum. Especially in STEM subjects, robotics is a brilliant way for kids to get more hands-on and explore topics, like motion and stability, more deeply. Educational robots offer a unique and meaningful combination of problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, play, exploration and creativity all in one easy-to-use product. Heck, some of them even introduce kids to the basics of coding and programming. All in all, the offerings that robotics provide for modern-day STEAM classrooms is over the moon.
Contrary to popular opinion, robotics is not an additional subject that teachers should be trying to squeeze in to an already jam-packed curriculum. Robotics is a supplement for enhancing the current curriculum—in almost any subject. They are able to benefit students of all ages, too. Some robots are designed to serve as an introduction to STEM principles while others are more complex and encourage kids to apply higher thinking to make a real impact on the community. With robots, it’s impossible not to open brand new avenues and, in fact, the possibilities are aplenty. Some of the most effective robotics lessons are those that incorporate strengthening literacy, predicting mathematical hypotheses and even enhancing writing. Pretty sweet, huh?
Kids can use robots in literature by crafting their own stories and then coding in the route of their favorite character. Or, in math, they can measure how fast their robot is traveling or estimate how long it will take for it to travel a certain distance. Robots in writing? Make your own robot diary about his daily adventures and add pictures, sound or video too! There’s even a place for robotics in social studies. Their robots can help illustrate north, south, east and west and, eventually, they’ll learn to write the code that sends it in one of those directions among many other things! In all areas of elementary school, robots can be used to illustrate concepts in greater detail, encourage collaboration among partners or just get students excited about being up and moving around. Try it sometime!
Robotics Builds Skills Kids Will Need
In many countries (and it’s not just us—phew!), there is a continuing lack of qualified workers to occupy the jobs that make up the STEM fields. For many graduates entering the new-world workforce, they feel the pressure to find a job right away and that means they are going to have to possess some very particular skills. Despite all the technology we need to make our modern world function, there is a severe lack of people who have mastered it. So, with that being the case, it’s largely up to today’s educators to ensure that their students are ready for the careers of tomorrow. How are they doing that, though? One answer is they are providing kids with more opportunities for hands-on STEM learning. And, more specifically than that, they’re diving into robotics to help build these necessary skills.
A lot of students today (and always) simply do not have the interest in engaging in STEM subjects. For that reason, teachers need to make them interested and robotics are a great way to spark excitement and get them excited about learning. When students are allowed to use tools like robots in subjects like math or science, teachers are able to activate their creativity much more effectively. This leads to a shift from the perception that these subjects are complex and boring to students viewing them as increasingly exciting. It also initiates their inner inventiveness and inquisitiveness (try saying that 10 times fast). The best learners are the ones who want to know ‘why?’ and work tirelessly until their technology helps them find an answer.
Modern curricula need to get students interested in science from an early age—this is becoming more and more apparent every year. Students need the chance to be more active in the classroom, which lets their innovation blossom and their imaginations shine. One of the most enduring problems of traditional curricula is that they teach concepts in theory, but do not offer the option for actually putting these concepts into practice. Robotics is one great way to conquer this conundrum. Seeing the results of their labor gives students some context to verify that their efforts were worthwhile. Robots help create this sense of satisfaction while simultaneously building science and tech proficiency in kids as young as six or seven. If they don’t want to learn it, try teaching it with robots. If they still don’t…well, they will.
Can we Teach Morals to Robots?
The things that average people—teachers and students included—can create, teach and customized robots to do is already highly advanced. Robots are constructed to be able to fetch supplies, manufacture products and even set up alerts. With all these advances as well as the creation of humanoids that, well, you wouldn’t know were robots since they look exactly like people, scientists are now turning their attention to trying to devise ways to develop even more cutting-edge robotic technology. The belief among many is that robots could someday live in society just as if they were people. One thing that needs developing, however, is their consciences. Don’t you worry, though. It’s very much in the works.
The idea is to create software that allows robots to learn and mimic humanly acceptable behavior by sending different kinds of signals to the robot. Through programming, students (someday) will theoretically be able to control robots and learn a whole lot in the process. This software—when working properly—empowers these robots to recall relevant social events when they are responding to human interactions. Since, presumably, they have seen instances of good and bad behavior in the past, they would be able to discern what the proper course of action is. Essentially, through interaction, the robots would be adopting the values of the society in which they live—so hopefully the citizens they’re observing have good values!
Essentially, each act a robot sees would be represented to them as a story. As they begin to comprehend these stories and observe repetitive actions, the hope is that people would be able to reinforce the positive behaviors they see and eliminate the negative. Of course, this is probably way too technical for students to be jumping into any time soon, but the amazing potential for innovation is truly exciting. If nothing else, it’s a brilliant inspiration. Knowing this possibility exists is a subtle reminder of what the future holds. And, as for teachers, they can start exposing their students to the basics of coding and programming using much simpler robots, so that, if the time comes, they’re ready. They might even be part of the team that perfects the development of a robot that knows right from wrong.
Robotics is Transforming STEM in Elementary Schools
Who says teachers have to conform to the expectations set forth that hold them to hosting lectures in a traditional looking classroom? Where’s the excitement in that? STEM education—engaging, tactile and skill-shaping learning—is much more beneficial for students and, you might have noticed, much more fun! You also might have noticed that this doesn’t usually happen in our classrooms due to educational requirements, lack of funds, lack of resources, know-how or any number of excuses. It doesn’t have to be huge, though, to be effective. And, that’s where robotics comes in.
As we conclude National Robotics Week, let us first remember that STEM education is very likely going to be the key to finding a top-tier job for today’s students. Even in elementary school, kids can benefit from regular exposure to technology—and, yes, even from robots. At this point in their education, most kids are still working to master learning by reading and robots can help make it possible for them to work through problems and experiment with concepts as they learn them. Robotics revamp classrooms by transforming the way in which kids are expected to learn. Instead of a textbook and follow-up questions, students can apply design thinking and inquiry as they construct mazes or record dialogue using intuitive robots.
Some eager educators are even working to integrate robotics into as many subjects as possible and these curricular connections allow them to have much more flexibility in their quest to truly prepare their students for the world. Robotics can instantly transform traditional math or science lessons by engaging kids and clearly illustrating concepts like motion and acceleration (among many others). It’s these kinds of project-based activities that really get the students engaged. Robotics appeal to kids, get them excited about learning and genuinely educate the whole child. For even more readiness, kids can use tiny robots to participate in a mini version of the Hour of Code. Clearly, you’re missing out if you’re not building STEM skills with academically discounted robotic assistants.
For the latest EdTech, STEM, and 21st century education news, follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Like us on Facebook, too, or sign up for our newsletter for our latest product announcements and offerings. If you have an idea for an Eduporium Weekly theme, send us a message on social media or comment below.