Robots spur pupils to solve problems creatively
Chua Chu Kang Primary School pupils learning about ratios during their maths lesson by calculating the number of rotations the robot's wheels must make in order to travel a specific distance. -- PHOTO: CHUA CHU KANG PRIMARY SCHOOL
ROBOTS have yet to displace human teachers in the classroom, but they are an integral part of lessons in one suburban primary school.
Since 2008, Chua Chu Kang Primary School has been infusing subjects such as science, mathematics and art with robotics.
For instance, it comes into play in the Primary 5 maths lesson on ratios. Pupils measure the distance over which the robots move and compare it with the number of rotations their wheels make.
During art lessons, Primary 1 and 2 pupils construct and design houses, imaginary animals and ships using Lego sets. This helps to get them interested in building robots later on.
Madam Fauziah Othman, the school's subject head for robotics, said that apart from making learning more fun, robotics also forces pupils to 'exercise their creativity through engagement in basic design problems'.
The school in Choa Chu Kang Avenue 2 was awarded the Programme for School-Based Excellence in Robotics in 2008. This win earned it funds from the Education Ministry that have been ploughed into improving and expanding its robotics programme.
School principal Lee Wai Ling said the programme develops her pupils' critical thinking and information gathering skills.
STACEY CHIA
Home, The Straits Times, Tuesday, June 19 2012, Pg B4