CLUTCHING AT STRAWS
Aksorn Education has implemented several new simple but innovative tools for science and technology learning
Aksorn Education has recently adopted an innovative learning toy called Strawbees which was invented by a start-up in Sweden to enable teachers and students to modify things as they go with straws and connections.
Strawbees is an educational kit based on simple units that lets makers of all ages connect straws and build mechanical objects of different sizes from just straw and cardboard.
It is Aksorn Education’s attempt to place coding and robotic learning for small children in the classroom by integrating it into every step of the teaching process, according to Aksorn Education commercial vice-president Nittayakarn Charoentham.
“We don’t just put materials and tool kits into the class and say we are going to have students learn robotics, but we have been gradually working on a process of learning and teaching for a long time. For us, robots are not just about science, but also maths, art, science and technology. We teach students to learn about robotics without making robots, but through a process of designing,” she said.
The company recently conducted a training workshop for teachers and students in Rayong, which is considered by the government an economic corridor.
“Besides industry that is important to the eastern region, education should be very much focused here,” said Nittayakarn, adding that the teacher training programme in Rayong also coincides with the Thailand 4.0 policy.
Aksorn utilises the STEAM process to learning (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics), ensuring teachers are fully trained in the programme and sparking students’ creativity and critical thinking skills.
Before implementing Strawbees, a few years ago Aksorn Education, through collaboration with Twig World, a UK-based company specialising in educational videos, also created a learning media ecosystem which covers mathematics, science and social studies.
Following the introduction of the Twig educational video, Aksorn is now going to set up a company focusing on coding and robotic technology which will provide tools and training to students and teachers in schools.
The next stage is the integration of school books, library books, DVDs, educational videos and learning media — Strawbees is the beginning of the journey of coding and robot learning, said Nittayakarn.
Through Strawbees, the process of learning is paramount. Once students learn the process of STEAM, they will gradually withdraw from learning through Strawbees by about 25%. After that they will turn their attention towards coding and robotics.
“We applied general objects like straw that every kid knows. Strawbees is an open-ended question that leads children to have creativity,” said the vice-president.
By next year, the results of the work will be proven, said Nittayakarn, because Aksorn has been in the education business for a long time and the company has trained teachers and students nationwide.
“The challenge is to inspire teachers and students, for them to admire their own inventions,” said Nittayakarn.
Aksorn Education meanwhile is going to build a platform of education through collaboration with AIS. Operating as a mobile application, the platform enables users, students and teachers to access educational content, including video clips, interactive content and exercises. The first phase of the service is expected to be launched shortly and targeted at users and consumers who are into self-learning.
We applied general objects like straw that every kid knows