Importance of Centre of Excellence in Robotics

We are living in a technology rich world. Science and technology are extremely popular with learners of today; they are also pathways to career opportunities in the future.

It is widely accepted among worldwide educationists that to work and operate in the learning environments of today, our learners need to be technology fluent and develop real life skills such as co-operation , self confidence , teamwork , creativity and innovation. Robotics programs are excellent in fulfilling the Science mandate. Robotics engages students in STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics) fields by providing interactive, hands-on, minds-on, cross-disciplinary learning opportunities.

Easily modified curriculum accounts for varying needs and available resources. Research shows that informal science experiences have a strong influence on whether a youth will follow a STEM career, thus robotics programs can influence career choices of participants.

Energized classrooms: Robotics offers teachers an opportunity to be imaginative in pedagogy. They get an opportunity to rediscover and redesign learning by engaging students in an inquiry based approach where they encourage students to collaborate and be creative in solving open ended robotics challenges. It is well suited for Challenge Based Learning and Problem Based Learning.

Problem Solving and Training for Future careers: If students are given the time, space and purpose to build robots and solve open ended problems, it will allow for thought and action to come together. The students will get an opportunity to construct knowledge and build theories, thus, strengthen their understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in collaborative settings. Robotics also attracts students to content domains such as mechanics, electrical circuits and applied mathematical reasoning that often are stumbling blocks for middle school students.

Logic Building & Programming: Program building robots aims to help students develop logic building and critical thinking skills at a very young age. Our in-house developed software blockly enables students to program robots easily through simple drag and drop technique. Watching the output of the program in action form makes debugging programs easier and motivate students to self learn programming by developing varied programs for the same problem statement.

Hands-on Learning & Engagement: It has been observed that learners of all ages enjoy hands-on construction activities. Robotics provide a context for inquiry and discovery,leading students become active problem solvers and to engage in their own learning.The aim of hands on experience with engineering and mechanics provided in the robotics class is to put students in the role of creating and designing with information technology and not just using and consuming it.

Robotics is FUN: An important reason for robotics to be integrated into contemporary learning environment is that it is FUN! After observing and working with thousands of students from grade 4 to grade 12 in our Robolab, it is evident that students are totally immersed in the guided and open ended challenges they are presented with and often do not want to stop-not even for lunch break.