Our first year experience with Robotics!
STEM and Makerspace is an integral part of the future of education. When I think about the power of AI and its ability to write and produce information in a split second that would otherwise take a human several minutes or hours to complete, these hands-on tasks seem far more important than they previously did in education. Last year we purchased around 25 Robotics kits for our Grade 9/10s at Rouleau School. Students took their first Robotics course with an eager teacher and while not all 25 students enjoyed it, all 25 did learn a completely new skill set, develop an appreciation for coding and the process of sequencing directions to make something happen. All students appreciated trying something new and were forced to learn patience and perseverance as they problem solved technical issues and new learnings. Many students are planning to take the next level of the course through our online options at the Sask Distance Learning Centre (Sask DLC) and will use these skills moving forward as they explore computer science programs. Even if many of the 9/10 students choose to never use these coding skills again, they will at least have an understanding of those processes and relate to their future children who will be growing up in a world where learning coding is likely to be the norm.
The value of these programs is to provide an opportunity for children to complete hands-on tasks. Our students were building robots and programming them to complete a series of functions. Whether having them light up in a certain sequence or battle each other for robot supremacy, their problem solving muscles were flexed and they thought in different ways than they need to in other subject areas. The teacher was able to complete a couple cross curricular projects like having the robots draw pictures for art or understand light in science.
Coding and Makerspace courses do not need to be taught exclusively by techies, however, if the person is not a techie, they should be patient and prepared to constantly be working through technical errors in a positive light. We saw students become frustrated time and time again thankfully our techie teacher was both knowledgeable and patient helping students remain positive. The skills can be learned by anyone, but like most subjects, a combination of competence and passion leads to a lot of success. I see it a lot in sports. Many teachers or staff members feel obligated to coach a team to do their part. Those who are not in it, often lose the interest of the students because they can see there is no excitement or passion for those sports. Those coaches who are eager and excited to be there, often captivate the students’ interest more and many teams perform better than on the teachers with the disinterested, skilled coach. Excitement and passion is integral to keeping the interest of our “phone-based childhood” students.
4 thoughts on “Our first year experience with Robotics!”
I am happy to read about your experience at Rouleau School with the Robotics kits which is a testament to the transformative power of hands-on learning. It’s inspiring to see that, despite varying levels of enjoyment, every student gained a valuable skill set and an appreciation for coding and problem-solving.
The enthusiasm of your students, especially those continuing with advanced courses through the Sask Distance Learning Centre, is a clear indicator of the long-term benefits of these programs. Even those who might not pursue coding in the future will have a foundational understanding that could be invaluable, particularly as future generations grow up in a world where coding is ubiquitous.
I wholeheartedly agree that coding and maker space courses should not be limited to tech enthusiasts. With the right mindset, anyone can teach these subjects. The key is patience and a willingness to embrace and learn from technical challenges. Your comparison to sports coaching is spot on—passion and enthusiasm from the educator can significantly influence student engagement and success. When teachers are excited and invested in what they are teaching, it creates a more dynamic and motivating learning environment.
Thank you for sharing your experience and insights from Rouleau School—it’s a powerful reminder of the impact that innovative educational practices can have on our students
Thanks for the real-life experience shared. I can relate to this as well. Even though students are taught how to code, what they are learning is more applicable to their personal lives than the coding or programming itself. We are in a generation where people are not patient with reading again, not zealous about trying new things, and not ready to take up new challenges. I think this is why coding is being reintroduced in a more interesting way so it could bring back those essential skills for this generation of students. Perseverance, collaboration, and the I can do attitude ..all these are related to the computational thinking practices and principles that students need to be able to provide solutions to problems.
Hi Mitch, I always love reading the blog posts that discuss personal experiences, so I was excited reading yours! It’s amazing that your school provides students with such a wonderful opportunity to use Robotics kits and to build hands-on skills. You’re right, with the development of AI such skills would be essentially important. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Mitch, thank you for sharing your experience. As mentioned, being technologically inclined without patience is not sufficient or effective. It is frustrating and difficult for some educators to assimilate into the tech world, what say a child who is learning and trying to make sense of it all. It requires patience and repetition. Additionally, makerspace’s hands-on learning; and experiential approach supports John Dewey’s philosophy on education, which is beneficial to children’s cognitive development, independence, and creativity. Your reflection illustrates a clear appreciation of such. Keep up the good work Mitch!