Educational Robotics.
Basically it's the
use of robots in the classroom to enhance various skills.
Well we know from
the digital action plan that the
ministry wants to integrate more coding
in the classrooms like coding robotics
and devices will be more and more part
of our world and we know that we would
like our students to be able to use this
technology in the future such as the
ones from the STEM disciplines... science, technology, engineering, math but also
cross curricular skills such as problem
solving, communication, working in teams.
You can develop a lot of other skills in
math even language arts. You can have the
robots create a story and dance in arts.
So, many interdisciplinary ways of
integrating robotics in the classroom.
I am a French teacher so I teach French.
So, students speak together in French. They collaborate.
I decided to bring it (robotics) into the class.
It was easy to make a connection to our lives around us.
Robots captivate students. They generate
interest so a bit like any digital device.
We would take this interest from
the student and try to bring it to other subjects.
It's important for them to not miss robotics.
Sometimes I go over time and the students remind me...
"Mr. Patrick...It's time for robotics!"
Once we have motivation, it's easy to lead a long-term project.
So for example in Math, I can use robots. Have students create a path that will go in certain angles, to develop the math skills.
Eventually robotics will be part of
maybe our daily lives so if we introduce
students to those device already at a
young age, then they will be able to use it later on.
Students will each take different paths. It is often 'trial and error'.
Therefore, errors are part of the learning. It is easy for students to not be afraid of mistakes.
It's not like a problem on a Math exam, and you don't have the correct answer.
And we ask ourselves, how can we get the correct answer?
Whereas with robotics, we can see one part of the answer.
We see the robot go in a completely different direction
But we see the robot moving. We see the student progress along with the mission.
Teachers are always looking for ways to treat a specific subject in a way
that would make learning fun and engaging
and I believe that robotics is one way to
achieve that
