Robotics and programming
Additional classes for students interested in programming and robotics are being held at the H. Sucharski Comprehensive and Vocational School Complex in Bolesławiec. There will surely be those who ask: “Why do an ‘economics school’ need robots and programming?” We hasten to answer. It is simply a sign of the times! Preventing digital exclusion in every area is no longer an alternative but an absolute duty of every school. The reality around us increasingly demonstrates how broad the applications of robots are, while the ability to think algorithmically is highly valued by employers and will probably be useful to everyone in the near future—even at home. Today, we already use cleaning and cooking robots, as well as robots controlling household appliances, and there is no turning back.
In response to the demands of the times, we offered our students additional computer science classes. During the first semester, students from the ZSOiZ who were interested in the program—future freight forwarders, economists and food-service technicians—learned the basics of programming in Python. They are already familiar with operations on numbers and strings and with basic structures such as loops.
The classes were held both on-site and remotely. During the pandemic, we were able to teach programming topics in a particularly engaging and effective way precisely through remote learning. The internet offers many tools enabling this kind of education and teamwork, while the school’s Google Workspace educational platform provided enormous support; in the pandemic reality, we use it every day.
In the second semester, it was time for a series of robotics classes. The students used the programming skills they had acquired while also developing their technical abilities. During the first classes, they independently built robots using mBot educational kits. Interestingly, girls made up the majority of the group participating in the robotics classes, and they handled the construction tasks perfectly. The boys, meanwhile, provided major support with the actual programming of the robots.
The classes and the school’s acquisition of additional educational robots were made possible by a grant from the Center of Excellence in Computer Science, secured by the head of practical training. Selected students from the following classes take part: 2PGH (food-service and catering technician), 2GTE (economic technician), and 1PRS (freight-forwarding technician). To continue the “robotic revolution,” we are already planning further meetings this year. Encouraged by the students’ enthusiasm, we would also like to offer similar classes to ZSOiZ students in the next school year. And now we invite you to see programming and robotics through the students’ eyes:
https://www.canva.com/design/DAEbQt2kDkQ/gjIgCxndskUoIH6Rn1n0SQ/watch?utm_content=DAEbQt2kDkQ&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton.