CODING AND ROBOTICS USING LOW-COST AND RE-USABLE RESOURCES

Problem and implemented solution

Education department is facing resistance from teachers in implementing a new school subject in coding and robotics due to a lack of necessary resources. The high cost of coding and robotics kits for clubs across different grade levels further complicates the challenge of teaching subject. My project is about developing Low Cost Coding and Robotics kits and run coding and robotics clubs as a way of introducing the teaching of coding and robotics in schools. As a Foundation phase Departmental Head and ICT champion in a rural public school I have realized that our school is falling behind with regard to the teaching of coding and robotics. I have built from scatch a prototype using wires and reusable materials. The prototype is fully functional and I am currently using it in my school to run a coding and robotics club. Now my project is aimed at mass producing the prototype that I build and package low cost coding and robotics kits that will not only benefit my school but other rural public schools across our circuit. The main goal of my project is to train learners and help them develop and build inexpensive, affordable prototypes for learning coding.

Longlist

Nomination

Cognitive technologies and Creative economy

Topic

Industrial design solution for a technological product

Estimated duration of implementation

4 Years

Implementation geography

Chokwe Primary School and Polokwane

Description of competitive advantages

The solution is to develop low cost materials and resources to all public rural schools to introduce coding and robotics. Materials and resources include a comprehensive handbook that will allow teachers to build prototypes using wires and and small motors. The prototype is very innovative because the resources are reused and repurposed. The prototype is built by reusing and repurposing materials such as wires to build a structure, rubber bands to serve as a pulley or drivetrain on, bottle caps to make the wheels.

The project reuses the motors that are extracted from old radio cassette players and broken toys freely with the permission of the learners parents. Reusing motors still serves the purpose because the motor can rotate oposite direction. Since there are not enough laptops at our schoolto power up the model or motor, the project uses the portible Size (D) battery to power up the our innovation project.

In Coding and robotics the robot at some point have to push and pull objects. The D battery is powerful enough to drive our project to be able to pull and push objects when needed. Our project also uses coloured rubber bands to serve as a pulley between the motor and plastic wheels. The rubber bands are in different sizes to challenge learners when they will be busy problem solving activities.

Therefore the coding team will have to solve that problem in making their selection of bands. The project is adaptable and can be modified with ease to cater for coding clubs that have learners of varying ability levels

List of awards and prizes, media articles about the organization/individual or the Practice

1. YALI Regional Leadership Center Southern Africa. Jul 2023 Recognized as a young leader committed to transforming Africa. Recognized as one of the top 10 grant recipients for successfully pitching my education innovative idea. 2. Johannesburg, South Africa Certificate, Education Change Makers Cohort 3

List of scientific works and IP connected with the Practice

1. Education Changemakers YALI Regional Leadership Center Southern Africa. Jul 2023: Won R35 000 from Trever Noah Foundation

CODING AND ROBOTICS USING LOW-COST AND RE-USABLE RESOURCES

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