Page 5 - PDPOINTER092021

PD Pointer Volume 63 Page 5

Coding and Robotics

for a new generation

With Edutel you are at the forefront of innovative teaching

C Don’t hesitate. Teachers need to
oding and robotics have become buzzwords in the educational
sphere wherever teachers are serious about equipping the new gen-
eration.
Coding and robotics are an integral part of our Advanced Certificate
in Foundation Phase Teaching programme’s curriculum. Become part of a create innovative
trend setting
Edutel prides itself on setting the pace, not only in terms of other relevant top-
ics but especially when it comes to introducing teachers to coding and robot- generation of lessons online
ics.
educationalists.
What is coding and robotics. Associate with
By Dr Magavani Chetty
Coding is essentially written instructions that a robot or computer program can the leader in
read and then execute. Robotics allows students to see their thinking in a real distance With online teaching hastened by COVID-19,
way as they go through trial and error until the task is accomplished and the teachers have had to convert face-to-face teach-
robot's motions are performed as originally intended. education – at ing into remote classes with minimum resources
the forefront as and time.
Perseverance through struggle, problem-solving, a sense of urgency, and col- Online teaching requires technology and pre-
laboration (when working in pairs) are all encouraged, fostered, and achieved always. sents a challenge to teachers to negotiate un-
through such projects. chartered territory.
Advocates of online teaching claim that it is
“cutting edge” and encourage teachers to create
innovative teaching strategies to better prepare
students for the skills required in the 21st centu-
ry.
However, it has been found that technology inte-
gration in education is either not happening or
happening too slowly. This disconnect is proba-
bly due to limited understanding of how students
learn in online spaces, what method of teaching
is best suited for content and which tool to use
and how to use it.
Recently, it is not only students, but parents,
employers and the community that expect the
education system to prioritise critical thinking,
communication, collaboration and creativity.
These skills require appropriate digital methods
of teaching practices, tools and strategies rele-
vant to the content covered and required out-
comes to be achieved.
Teachers range in their knowledge of technology
and feel a sense of digital pressure with the in-
troduction of online teaching, as they want to be
able to use the tools effectively. They have to
keep up with the increasing demands of stu-
dents or else they will be left behind.
Remote teaching in its current form is a solution
to facilitating the course curriculum in times of an
emergency. However, its continued use for long
The Coding and Robotics subject is central to func- and preparing learners to solve problems, think criti- periods of time raises concerns of maintaining
tioning in a digital and information-driven world; apply- cally, work together and creatively function in a digital effective delivery using sound digital instructional
ing digital ICT skills and transferring these skills to and information-driven world, apply digital and ICT principles to achieve student learning outcomes.
solve everyday problems in the development of learn- skills and to transfer these skills to solve everyday Ongoing discussion on developing a contextually
ers. It is concerned with the various interrelated areas problems and its possibilities, including equipping relevant digital methods of teaching is required.
of Information Technology and Engineering. The sub- learners for meaningful and successful living in a rap-
ject studies the activities that deal with the solution of idly changing and transforming society. How must technology be chosen?
problems through logical and computational thinking.
Robotics will not require any infrastructure Choosing the right technology can be a chal-
Now an integral part of the curriculum lenge. You need to think about the amount of
The robotics curriculum is set to have a strong foun- support that may be available if you experience
The Department of Education announced that it will be dation in engineering in science, technology, engi- problems. Consider whether the technology is
implementing what President Cyril Ramaphosa prom- neering and mathematics (STEM), and learners will accessible for all learners, the financial costs,
ised during his 2019 State of the Nation Address, con- be able to build and operate robots through program- and the time it takes to learn and use it. Issues
firming that coding and robotics will be included in the ming code. of student privacy and security are also major
school curriculum for Grades R to 3. The robotics curriculum will not require any infrastruc- concerns in using technology in the classroom.
The rollout of this curriculum forms part of the depart- ture or devices. Instead maker spaces will be neces-
ment’s strategic implementation of a curriculum with sary to provide students with hands-on ways to de- How must technology be used?
skills and competencies for a changing world in all sign, experiment, build and invent.
public schools. Cardboard construction activities, for example, are It is important to consider your lesson objectives
useful robotics teaching tools. and then find digital tools that will help you
Coding, robotics and CAPS: Grade R-3 Edutel`s study material includes professional, CAPS achieve those goals.
based and educationally sound instructional material Integrating simple technologies like PowerPoint,
The National Curriculum Statement aims to produce to equip you for the challenges of today and tomor- games, internet homework assignments or
learners that are able to use science, technology, cod- row. online grading systems can make a difference in
ing and robotics effectively and critically showing Edutel leads in distance education with a hands-on students’ learning.
responsibility towards the environment and the health approach. In primary education, students can use interac-
of others. Our business is equipping teachers. Nothing more tive games and websites like “Spelling Training”
and nothing less. and “Easy Bib” to acquire skills in research. High
The aims of coding and robotics Don’t hesitate. Become part of a trend setting genera- school classrooms could include Microsoft Office
tion of educationalists. Associate with the leader in and Google Drive.— iol.co.za
The Coding and Robotics subject is aimed at guiding distance education – at the forefront as always.