Students at Manilla Central got a glimpse of the future recently, and then learnt how to control it.
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The entire year seven class took on a beginners robotics workshop last Friday, where they not only learnt exactly where the research and science behind robotics is up to, but also where it is heading and how they can, and will be involved.
The workshop was run by Western Student Connections in a bid to to enhance the integration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEAM) into the curriculum according to head teacher of secondary studies Nichole Malloy.
"The kids absolutely loved it - there was a real interest in robotics that I expected from lots of them, but not all of them," she said.
"Every student asked if we could do some more.
"We had some year five and six students come up to have a look as well, and they were the same."
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Student Jemarli Dallas said the students learnt how to program Beebots, Bluebots and Ozobots, as well as block coding with an app named Scratch Jr.
"We would press different buttons which would program the Bots to move once you pressed go - this was my favorite," she said.
There were also little Ozobots which moved when their sensors picked up red, black, blue and green colours."
The robotics program fell under the school's Gifted, Extended and Talented Students (GETS) program, with a second workshop already in the pipeline for next term, while Mrs Malloy is also in the process of organising a training workshop for teachers all over the region.
"It is away of exposing our kids, rural kids, to robotics and the possibilities of the future," she said.
"It is about teaching them how to find their place, and find a way to navigate through the world."
The school is hoping to host an information workshop for local schools next term, however needs a minimum of ten interested teachers to go ahead.