Modern technology is always evolving, seeing mankind achieve new heights in the pursuit of greatness.
With technology becoming the backbone of the modern world, ensuring the next generation is fully prepared to make better career choices later on in life, Drakensberg Primary School will be ushering in a new offering for its leaners.
This comes with Drakensberg Primary School set to launch its robotics club. A subject which is set to see the school’s learners embark on a journey of new-age knowledge.
Drakensberg Primary School teacher, Cornelius Möller, who will be leading the robotics club, elaborates on the new subject which is set to be launched as of January 2020.
“The Department of Education is looking at bringing robotics to its schools. To be proactive, Drakensberg Primary is getting a head start. We will start with the Robotics club which will take place during the culture periods and move on from there.”
But what does robotics entail?
Möller explains the learners will be participating in the basics in Lego EV3 robotics. “This is used all over the country and one of the most popular in the world. What’s nice, is that learners can either participate in a few leagues or do the standard educational course.”
One of the leagues is the First Lego League. This is an international competition organised by FIRST for school learners aged between nine and 14 years. Each year in August, FIRST LEGO League introduces a scientific and real-world challenge for teams to focus and research on.
The robotics part of the competition involves designing and programming Lego robots to complete tasks. The students work out solutions to the various problems they are given and then meet for regional, national and international tournaments to compete, share their knowledge, compare ideas, and display their robots.
Then there is the World Robotics Olympiad (WRO), a global competition which attracts thousands of teams on an annual basis, with competitors pushing their robotics knowledge to the limits.
“There is also the plain academic route through Hands On Technologies, which are based in Johannesburg. I have been working with them for the past five years.”
As part of the robotics course, Möller will be introducing the learners to constructing and programming. “This will be done in partnerships, where two learners will work together and forms part of 21st-century education. This goes with communication, collaboration, critical thinking and constructiveness.”
With the robotics club set to launch in January 2020, Möller says the school is looking at getting six Lego robotic sets for 12 learners. This will start the process which will benefit both the children and the school.
Why is robotics so important for the children?
“The future of jobs involves robotics and programming. There are already doctors who are performing surgeries with XBOX controllers. Then there are the space programmes. Robotics can also be used for recycling. The ripple effect is enormous and the knowledge that goes with it, can only be great for the children,” Möller explains.
As for Drakensberg Primary, Möller explains due to not many public schools being involved in robotics as yet, this will make the primary school one of the few governmental schools to take a step into the future.
With exposure to robotics, the school will be able to develop at an exponential rate. The new subject further exposes learners to a brand-new experience, allowing them to embrace the future.
As Drakensberg Primary School goes about preparing for its new academical development, it seems the school is set to change the public school sector in Newcastle like never before.
Well done to Drakies, this is an exciting new offering for our mini-Newcastillians!
