The Chronicle

Kids build robots to solve problems

- SEAN WHITE Sean.White@thechronic­le.com.au

Photo: Nev Madsen

CHILDREN in Toowoomba have spent the first week of the school holidays learning about science and engineerin­g.

The children learnt how robotics work at the EDwoodUCAT­ION Robotics and Engineerin­g Excellence.

Toowoomba student Logan Sanders said it was really cool learning how robots worked.

“I’ve had a lot of fun at the workshop. Not only did I learn how robots work but I also got to make new friends,” Logan said.

The workshop was designed to engage children with robotics to teach them creative ways to approach problem-solving.

Children were tasked with a hypothetic­al scenario to use robotics to save a nuclear power plant from a meltdown.

The children were given kits of Arduino hardware to make three-wheeled robots to complete the hypothetic­al task.

EDwoodUCAT­ION educator Fraser Border said the children had gone beyond his expectatio­ns.

“All the children have done exceptiona­lly well and they have been picking it up fast,” Mr Border said.

“This stuff isn’t simple like plug and play equipment; the children have to build everything from scratch.

“The children learn the process of what they are doing, instead of just turning it on.

“We want to give the children the tools so they can solve their own problems.”

 ??  ?? YOUNG ENGINEERS: Children at the EDwoodUCAT­ION Robotics and Engineerin­g Excellence (from left), Logan Sanders, 10, Sam Silvester, 9, and Dinel Ratnaseker­a, 10.
YOUNG ENGINEERS: Children at the EDwoodUCAT­ION Robotics and Engineerin­g Excellence (from left), Logan Sanders, 10, Sam Silvester, 9, and Dinel Ratnaseker­a, 10.
 ??  ?? Learning at the EDwoodUCAT­ION Robotics and Engineerin­g Excellence are (from left) Rheanca Lincoln, 12, Lachlan Sallaway, 10, and Alistair Richards, 10, with educator Fraser Border.
Learning at the EDwoodUCAT­ION Robotics and Engineerin­g Excellence are (from left) Rheanca Lincoln, 12, Lachlan Sallaway, 10, and Alistair Richards, 10, with educator Fraser Border.

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