Robotics helps spark UAE students' interest in Stem topics

Integrating robotics has upped the game for a low-cost Pakistani community school in Dubai. The school integrated robotics via Stem subjects to develop interests of students and also upgrade their profile.
Looking forward to a better rating from the Abu Dhabi Education Council, the Sheikh Khalifa Pakistani Arab School, backed by the Pakistani Embassy, took the help a Dubai-based educational technology company, Coded Minds, to integrate Stem-based approach in the curriculum.
A pilot two-week workshop was organised by Coded Minds for Grade 7 students, where a "robotics and math technology teacher" took classes while the school Math teacher keenly listened to adapt to the new skills. The workshops were initiated as part of the UAE Innovation Month and will be integrated for the whole school that has over 2,000 students.
"Students are really enjoying the project-based on practical experience away from text books. Robotics is a new form of learning for them," said Omar Farooqui, founder and chief innovation officer of Coded Minds. "We used tech kits in conjunction with the curriculum provided by the school. Our job is to make sure children are taught through practical project-based learning using various kits and tablets. We began with Math but will be doing it for all subjects."
Mohammed Ilyas, school principal, said this was the first time students were getting direct access to technology learning. "We are taking this as an opportunity to let our children innovate with technology."
Moazzam Ahmed Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE, said it is time to upgrade Pakistani school educational standard with technology. "Gone are the days where memorisation of text books will ensure a good career. Now, no knowledge is complete without technology and innovation," he said. "There is no option other than integrating technology in our curriculum."
The school teachers were shocked to see non-performing kids take keen interest in the subject and perform well with the new method. Noor Ullah, a Grade 7 student at the school, said he had never thought he would be excited to study Math until he was re-introduced to the subject through robotics. "The last two weeks of Math classes have been incredible due to the new technologies introduced to understand the subject. It was such a great experience that I got to play with robots while learning a lot at the same time," Noor Ullah said.
Farooqui said: "This was an incredibly new experience. Change is never easy but with children being such willing learners by virtue of practical learning, it is a very easy adaptation for all schools."
saman@khaleejtimes.com