STEM IN ACTION Challenge accepted – Junior School robotics: reflections and learnings By Digital Learning Leader, Mr Dan Brown
“Shrug” the robot completing a mission
What is an effective framework for STEM learning? How can students be engaged in effective learning of Technology and other STEM subjects? This is a report of a twoyear journey into teaching STEM to Years 5 and 6 Robotics students in an after-school class, and the difficulties, benefits, frustrations and learnings of this experience.
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Illuminate EDITION 2 2019
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ome people may be familiar with the phrase ‘changing the goals posts’ – a metaphor for when a team is given an intentional advantage or disadvantage during the proceedings of a competition. How about a team of ten girls keen on robotics, who, for months, have been meticulously planning, measuring, testing and refining a robot to navigate itself around a competition field the size of a large table, in preparation for an internationally renowned event, only to find that an error has been made
by the organisers? The dimensions of the competition table are sizeably different than given in the rules; thereby rendering months of work redundant in a matter of seconds through no fault of their own. Without question, no advantage or disadvantage was intended by the organisers. Nonetheless, the girls had a stark confrontation with the metaphor of ‘changing the goal posts’. How would anyone feel in such a situation? What would be the ideal way to react?
Pymble Ladies’ College
