What Does Robotic Coding Bring to Children and Young People?
Improves problem solving skills:Children have to come up with creative solutions to solve the problems they encounter while designing and programming robots.
Encourages creative thinking:In the process of designing and programming robots, they try to come up with out-of-the-box ideas by trying different ways to achieve the goal.
Collaboration and communication skills are strengthened:Since projects usually require teamwork, children learn to work together in these projects and improve their communication skills.
They are introduced to the technology of the future at an early age:In this way, they can use technology more effectively in their future business lives.
Their self-confidence increases:Robotic coding for children also provides positive contributions to personal development. As they successfully complete challenging projects, their self-confidence increases and their motivation increases.
What is Done in Robotic Coding Training?
STEM/STEM+A with Robotic Coding Training
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and STEM+A (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Arts) education programs are designed to help students develop their skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Robotic coding is one of the most important tools that can be used as part of STEM/STEM+A programs.
By working on robots, students learn basic physics and mathematics principles. In addition, this learning process is also related to the art and design skills within the scope of “STEM+A” education, as it provides students with creativity, problem-solving, collaboration and communication skills.
Robotic coding helps integrate all disciplines included in the STEM/STEM+A approach and makes learning more efficient by making the students’ learning process multidimensional.
Young People on the STEM+A Axis Meet at FIRST® Robotics Competition
FIRST® Robotics Competition, a competition where young people have been developing, learning, and designing robotic coding skills together on the STEM + A axis since 2018, offers one of the best areas to direct young people to this field.
During this competition, young people sometimes compete with each other and sometimes work shoulder to shoulder.
In this way, they touch the technologies of the future while having fun within the framework of “sensitive professionalism”.
Basic Programming Information
The basic programming knowledge that children learn during the coding process teaches students the basic concepts of programming languages.
These concepts include variables, expressions, conditions, loops, functions, classes, and objects.
By learning these concepts, students can understand the basic structures of the programming language and write code.
They also gain the ability to detect and solve possible errors by debugging programming languages.
Use of Robotic Hardware
One of the important information gained in this process is that students gain insight into the use of robotic equipment.
This hardware includes motors, sensors, LEDs and other electronic components. By learning how this equipment works, students gain an idea about the movements and behaviors of robots.
Through the use of robotic hardware, students learn how to use sensors that will enable robots to perceive their environment and how to program motors.
Thus, they acquire the knowledge and skills that will enable robots to perform more complex tasks.
Can Robotic Coding Education Be Provided in Preschool Period?
In order for robotic coding to be suitable for the preschool period, teachers need to design interesting and fun activities that are suitable for children’s developmental stages.
Since children at this age have short attention spans, robotic coding games or activities should be short.
With these correct approaches, robotic coding education can be given in the preschool period; Children’s curiosity and interest in technology can be increased.
Additionally, these trainings can help students improve their language skills and learn mathematical concepts.
