Students build robots, learn science and teamwork
Print Edition
Every Thursday afternoon, students play around with robots — always a fascinating subject — they brainstorm, design, assemble, take apart, program, and generally mess around.
They take a class in robot building, and in the process, middle school students learn about science — mechanics, engineering, physics, chemistry, electronics, programming — as well as problem solving, cooperation, sharing and teamwork. They also learn about creativity and are encouraged to try out new ideas.
Sometimes things don’t work, and they start all over again.
The students in grades 6, 7,and 8 attend the school attached to Caoyang No. 2 High School in Putuo District.
Since 2002, Putuo started to explore the robot courses. In September 2010, it was designated as the district’s shared creative program. After three years, the number of participating schools increased from 20 to over 70.
Eighth-grader Xu Wenyu, 13, started to build robots in the program last year.
“I do program design for the football robots and Lego robots, and provide technical support for our school’s team competing at the DI (Destination Imagination) Competition,” Xu said.
DI is an international non-profit educational program founded in the US state of New Jersey in 1983. Affiliated countries host various activities and competitions. It’s a community-based program for schools that encourages creativity, problem solving and teamwork.
The school’s creative lab, decorated in bright orange and blue, is named 6I+D, representing six I’s — I, idea, interest, intelligence, information technology, ideal and D for do.
Classes are required or elective, depending on the schools. Classes are required at the school attached to Caoyang No. 2 High School.
More than 200 students enroll in the classes every year. Excellent students who are interested in robots also take part in the clubs that meet on Mondays.
The robot-building classes include exterior construction and programming, said Xia Gefei, who has taught the program for six years.
Core courses start in middle schools, while primary school students mostly build the exterior structures and work on design. Classes end before ninth grade, when students are under a lot of pressure for schoolwork and the graduation exam.
The intelligent robot program is based on information technology and relates with students’ daily life. In class they learn the technical side of making robots; they also come up with new ideas and try imaginative new things.
Xuan Qi, another teacher in the program, said students can undertake projects that interest them, and deal with different situations. Some are related to major events, such as earthquakes, requiring rescue and debris-removal robots.
Students mostly work in groups and each students has tasks related to her or his own strength. Some brainstorm, some do design, some do construction and others programming.
One student came up with the idea of turning a centrifuge model into an alarm system, using the basic robot making set AS-ET601. That’s a basic robot kit, with many parts and options. Students can add electric power and other elements.
Another student put washing machine wheels on a helicopter.
Students are encouraged to come up with new ideas and try out new things. The learning process is interactive.
Every year, students take 36 hours of robot classes and complete around 18 projects.
The school opened a modern new technology lab to help the students with their projects.
The aim is to extend the robot program to most schools, but it’s not about winning competitions. It’s about providing fun, comprehensive knowledge about science, improving problem solving, and encouraging cooperation and teamwork.
Every year the district provides funding to schools offering the courses as part of a special educational program.
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