Robotics clubs have long been a popular after-school activity with competitions at all levels sprouting up across the country. However, it’s only been in recent years that they have started to enter the classroom during traditional instruction time. In addition to coding and programming for the growing presence of computer science classes, robots can be used in many other areas of STEM education as well, and have good reason to.
What Qualifies as Robots in Education?
Activities, programs, or products using classroom robots that engage and inspire students to explore STEM subjects are great examples of educational robotics. The goal is to stimulate students’ interest in STEM, improve their problem-solving skills, and enhance their innate creativity.
There is a wide range of STEM products for schools that can be used to teach robotics and related concepts. The Wonder Workshop Dash, Dot, and Cue robots help students age 5-14 learn to code. Ozobot combines robotics and astronomy with their classroom kits. Root and Bird Brain have both designed robots that can draw on paper or a mat to enhance art and math lessons. Regardless of which robots you choose and how you use them in your classroom, there are many robotics supplies available to make every lesson brand new.
Why Teach Robotics?
As AI expands our capabilities and makes existing technologies easier to use, it’s guaranteed that your students will encounter robotics outside the classroom and in their future careers. As such, it’s important to provide them with the necessary background knowledge and skills to use these robots effectively. In the safety of the robotics workshop, students can feel free to explore the field of robotics by designing, testing, analyzing, and revising experiments.
Benefits of Robotics in Education
As they get older, fewer and fewer students are interested in STEM, especially girls. They may find the content too challenging, feel that it’s just not for them, or be pressured by others to consider it uncool. Learning about robots can help reignite their interest, leading them to topics, skills, classes, and even careers they might not have otherwise considered.
More than just the hard skills of working with robots, students will also learn other soft skills including teamwork and collaboration, creativity, critical problem-solving, communication skills, ability to self-assess, perseverance, and adaptability.
Robotics for Early Education
As with many educational topics, getting kids started early is the key to success later in life. The same is true for robotics. Young children are naturally curious about the world around them, which makes this a great opportunity to introduce STEM and robotics concepts. They’ll also begin to develop important critical-thinking and problem-solving skills they can hone over time. By mastering these skills at an early age, students will be better prepared for future, more complex, classwork as well as careers in emerging technology fields.
Robotics and Technology Supplies Available for You
Teaching children about robotics may require a bit of learning on your own part, but many STEM products for schools include PD, training, and other resources to help you make the most of this technology. Shop our selection of STEM and robotics toys for kids online, and contact us if you have any questions!