Supported by a wealth of global research that has found that boys learn better in hands-on, practical approaches, all-boys school Calabar High has positioned itself to revolutionise the educational development of its students with its recently launched robotics programme.
Robotics has been touted to improve and encourage learning in STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.
In what has been described by the school administration as a first in Jamaica, the programme is being integrated into the school’s curriculum on a phased basis, and was introduced to first and second form students on the institution’s 104th anniversary, last Monday.
“This is an exciting programme!” 12-year-old first former Daesean Channer told the Jamaica Observer following the programme launch.
“My dream is to become an engineer and this will help to do that. I will also be able to do better in mathematics and other science areas. I am happy to see this being introduced and that I am able to benefit,” he said.
His colleague, 11-year-old Miguel Bennett, said he is anxious to start classes in robotics because of his future ambitions.
First and second form Calabar High School students at the recent launch of the robotics programme at the school.
“This seems to be a great piece of technology and I anticipate learning, particularly about programming and understanding machine intelligence, so that I can manipulate them to address some world crisis or another. Immediately, however, we are told that exposure to robotics can help us to do a lot better in our academics like maths, physics, and chemistry, and in other subjects as well,” he said.
Classes are set to begin this week.
The programme is being managed by Calabar old boy and lecturer of physics and electronics at The Mico University College Wayne Thompson, who recently participated in a week-long robotics course at the Carnegie Mellon University in Washington DC.
“I am happy that we can expose these boys to this type of technology. This programme will enable improved passes in the maths and science areas and encourage careers in maths and science, as these are the careers of the future, as well as to stimulate critical thinking among boys,” Thompson told Career & Education.
“The vision that I have for this programme is that we will be able to add another technology known as raspberry pie, which will allow the boys more functionality. For example, the users will be able to manoeuvre robots from distant locations where we may not be physically present, but we will be able to monitor their movements from a monitor, and my hope is that we will be able to achieve this by next year,” he added.
The Jamaica, New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, and South Florida chapters of the Calabar Old Boys’ Association, with support from the school administration, are the principal drivers behind the programme. They have already purchased the robotics curriculum and related licences for access to virtual software from Carnegie Mellon University, and have since accepted an offer of support from said institution. The group has also bought six robots and is planning to procure some 30 laptops to be used as part of the project.
“We have a very good system in place and we intend to ensure that each class is exposed to the technology. We have not yet procured the 30 laptop computers that will be required per class, but we are well on our way. Our maths and science teachers have also done a number of workshops, one with the support of Jamaica College with whom we have a very good relationship since they have a robotics club, and now through Mr Thompson, who trained abroad recently. Overall, we just want to ensure that the boys at Calabar are reminded of their true potential and will ensure that they never drop the bar,” president of the local chapter of the association Keith Whyte explained.
Principal Albert Corcho, in his address to the boys on Monday, encouraged them to take advantage of the programmes and the many benefits to be derived from learning STEM subjects.
“Today, on the 104th birthday of Calabar High School, we have not only created history by becoming the first school to have as part of the curriculum robotics, but we have managed to do something even more important: we have put on display how important the holistic development of the intellectual capacity of our boys is to us,” said Corcho.
“This programme is so important because it has been used across the globe to encourage learning, particularly in areas of maths and science. So, you will be exposed to something that is dominating the rest of the world, something that will contribute to academic pursuit, just as it has for other students who are struggling or have expressed a particular interest in maths and science areas,” the Calabar head told the boys.
Source: Jamaica Observer