When hearing the word “robot”, we imagine futuristic landscapes with science-fiction technologies. “Robotics” seems an extravagant activity, but it's more accessible than we think, and now Heritage students can enter this fascinating world, and develop skills extremely useful for their future.
When they enter the classroom for Robotics 2.0 (classes 2-4) and Robotics 3.0 (classes 5-7) clubs, the learners turn into ROBOT TECHNICIANS (even says so on the workbooks that children receive). Guided by the teacher Nicolae Draguţan, they learn to build and program robots – an activity that inspires them, helping them make decisions, find solutions to real problems and think originally – skills that are highly appreciated in the 21st century. Moreover, they learn not only to use modern technologies, but also to understand the mechanisms behind them and the way these gadgets work.
But what is a robot? In short, it is a mechanical device that can be programmed to follow certain instructions. Essentially, it consists of a processing unit, sensors (to perceive the environment) and motors/actuators (to move limbs or wheels).
But Robotics means more than assembling parts, sensors, and engines. The course contains elements of mathematics, physics, biology, geography and even history, and each subject is approached from multiple perspectives as students are given the opportunity to apply in practice what they study in various disciplines.
For example, when assembling an elephant-shaped robot, they will learn from the manual and from the teacher curious information about the animal, its habitat, how it communicates with other elephants, and more. And when they build the “garbage truck” robot they will learn about waste decomposition and environmental protection.
Each level, lesson and task in the Robotics course is specifically designed for the children studying them, taking into account the knowledge they have at that age (such as reading or math), their physical (motor) skills, and their familiarity with technologies.
“For instance, I found that many students do not know how to use a mouse, which for us is a natural extension of the computer and became almost indispensable. They are the “touchscreen” generation and they perceive technologies in a different way, so we have to adapt our teaching and interaction and imagine how they see it”, explains the robotics teacher.
Nicolae Draguţan, besides having an impressive professional experience and academic background (master in physics, specializations in professional pedagogy and nano-bioengineering, collaborator of the Academy of Sciences), is also a licensed robotics teacher, for which he took 8 specialized courses. But he continues to improve and even contribute to updating the robotics program.
“This international robotics course is always current and taught to the understanding of children. We, teachers from all countries, constantly provide feedback to the authors, from our experience gained directly by interacting with the students, so they update the programs in order to keep up with the time, but also with the amazing abilities of the small robot technicians”, says the teacher.
Heritage students get enthusiastically involved in Robotics activities, discovering their new talents and skills, or even real passions for areas in which they will make a career. As Heritage raises personalities of virtues, prepared for the future, we offer students exciting extracurricular activities for a harmonious holistic development. The list of clubs is constantly updated in and from the beginning of this year students can sign up for:
Robotics 2.0 (classes 2-4)
Robotics 3.0 (gymnasium classes)
Reading Club – in English (primary classes)
German language (gymnasium classes)
Film Club – in English) (gymnasium classes)
Guitar – in English (gymnasium classes)
Drums – in English (gymnasium classes)
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