Kuopio Classical High School is partner in Erasmus+ project which gives us big opportunity to teach coding to our students and have a international experience during partisipating project trainings in Spain next fall season.
SUMMARY
In this modern world technology is critical for innovation but it is often difficult for schools to get pupils interested in being creative, we believe teaching robotics would create this incentive for pupils to realise their creative skills in an area that will give them skills for future employment.
Studies have shown that by using robotics schools can provide promote creative thinking skills, improve the learning experiences and develop problem solving skills.
These are critical skills necessary for the 21st century workplace. The The World Economic Forum (2016) has identified that the development of Robotics/Artificial Intelligence will take us into the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Jobs will be lost across the developed world as a result of Robotic/AI automation in the workforce. ET2020 and OECD (2011) recognise the need for current and future workforces to be up-skilled for the digital revolution.
OECD states that for digital technology to impact on improving students’ outcomes a concerted strategy is required that includes developing better learning materials, encouraging teachers’ own learning and professional growth, and improving our ability to measure what students have learned.
This project seeks to provide teachers will high quality training experiences with industry lead experts in robotics/programming/coding. These teachers will then develop creative and ‘fun’ learning activities to engage pupils in the acquisition of skills for the future.
Through these project activities we aim to develop innovative practices in digital technology to equip learners for the 4th Industrial Revolution and promote the necessary acquisition of these skills and competences.
CONTEXT
The context of the project is the increasing need to develop transferable skills of learners for current and future world developments. Pupils need to develop resilience in terms of their skills development, knowledge and understanding of the rapid advancing use of technology in school, home and working life.
The World Economic Forum (2016) clearly states that we are entering the ‘4th Industrial revolution’ where new technologies of robotics/Artificial Intelligence will remove over 5 million jobs in the developed world.
To match this demand schools and their teachers also need to learning experiences in line with students current and future needs. While many teachers are confident and competent with embedding digital learning in lessons they need to maintain pace with current technology and extend their skills to wider computer science/programming/coding and robotics.
Through engagement in this project, teachers will be able to develop their skills and improve their own professional development in line with 21st century learning and future skills requirements. Our partners have expertise in the use of Robot Kits. This project will use The LEGO® Education Mindstorms EV3 platform; previous work has shown that these kits can be used with a wide age range of pupils and develop complexity in programming/coding skills.
OBJECTIVES
- To up-skill teachers in 21st Century skills and strengthen their capacity to provide high quality, up to date learning experience for pupils
- To develop pupils’ creative, problem solving and team working skills to support them in finding innovative approaches to solving 21st century problems they will encounter in future work and life situations
- To inform parents/carers of how digital technology is delivered in classrooms and engage them in supporting their children’s learning.