Why STEM?
Young kids are naturally inquisitive. They also have boundless enthusiasm and oodles of imagination. Harnessing these innate qualities at an early age is crucial in laying the foundation for STEM skills and interest in STEM subjects.
So, Why STEM?
(and what is it?)
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, four subjects that play massive roles in our daily lives. For example, science explains the world around us; technology allows us to form connections and expand our knowledge; engineering provides solutions to problems as diverse as transport and climate change; and mathematics underpins almost every job and activity we do.
Because of this, STEM education is absolutely vital for students to succeed in our technology and information-based society. After all, learning the skills inherent in STEM subjects will help create the critical thinkers and innovators who will go on to tackle the biggest challenges facing our world today.
Weaving STEM into the curriculum from an early age gives students the opportunity to explore how these concepts relate to everyday life. And, by making these lessons fun and engaging, teachers can spark a passion in their students. By inviting students to do more than just learn, teachers can play a crucial role in creating the innovators and pioneers of the future.
And… Why Robots?
Well, because robots are super-cool obviously! But more than that, robots can be used to showcase the real-life applications of concepts such as engineering or programming. When a student has to control a physical robot, they can see what can go wrong (or right!), learn the need for precise instructions, and develop their problem-solving skills and computational thinking.
Robots can also be utilised in most core areas of the curriculum, including literacy and numeracy, and help address the growing demand for teaching STEM in the classroom. There is also considerable evidence that robots are particularly suitable for engaging children with special educational needs, with children on the spectrum responding well to the clear, consistent interactions that robots can provide.
Last, but not least, introducing robots to children at a young age can also help demystify technology. There have been a lot of scary stories in the media in recent years about ‘killer robots’ taking over the world. Understanding what machines can and can’t do is the best way to address these fears.
More on this in The Conversation.
So Why Marty?
Marty brings learning alive and off the screen. Beyond that, here are the top five reasons why Marty is different to other robots:
Huge Personality
Marty is a humanoid robot with a big personality that creates an instant human connection. Because Marty looks like them, children form an attachment to Marty – more so than they would with wheeled robots.
Teaching Resources
STEM class-in-a-box! Marty comes with complimentary lesson plans ready for the classroom. These lessons and teaching resources are aligned to many national and regional curricula.
Learning Progression
Marty offers great learning progression. From screen-free, or unplugged coding to block-based (Scratch) and text-based (Python) programming, Marty can help teach at every skill level – something that usually requires several different robots to achieve.
Cross-curricular Integration
Marty integrates right across the curriculum – from literacy and mathematics to social & emotional learning. And, while it’s best suited for children aged 5-12, the functionality and learning resources support pupils right through to high school.
Training & Support
Our in-house experts are on hand to train and support teachers in becoming STEM champions. We offer video and chat support to help boost teacher confidence.
How does Marty fit in?
Marty brings learning alive and off the screen. Beyond that, here are the top five reasons why Marty is different to other robots:
Reason 1
Marty is a humanoid robot with a big personality that creates an instant human connection. Because he looks like them, children form an attachment to Marty – more so than they would with wheeled robots.
Reason 2
STEM class-in-a-box! Marty comes with complimentary lesson plans ready for the classroom. These lessons and teaching resources align to the curriculum.
Reason 3
Marty offers great learning progression – from screen-free programming to Scratch and Python – Marty can help teach at every skill level. Something that would often require several different robots to achieve.
Reason 4
Marty integrates right across the curriculum – from literacy and numeracy to health & wellbeing. It is best suited for children aged 8-12, but the functionality and learning resources support pupils from pre-school and kindergarten right through to high school.
Reason 5
Our in-house experts are here to train and support teachers in becoming STEM champions. We offer video and chat support to help boost teacher confidence.
TRY MARTY
FOR FREE
Are you looking for new STEM resources for your classroom? Robotical is loaning Marty the Robot to schools for no-obligation, two-week trials.
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