Integration of a robotics programme into a South African secondary school curriculum: A case study

摘要

Stimulating interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among learners in developing countries remains a challenge, as schools often do not have the specialised skills or funds required to develop exciting STEM-related programmes like robotics. The RobotScienceproject at University of Johannesburg (UJ) TechnoLab aims to support South African schools with a cost effective, open source robotics platform that can be programmed from a computer, smartphone or tablet. All secondary schools in South Africa, including private schools, can offer robotics as a regular subject using the website and online videos TechnoLab produced to support its programmes in underprivileged communities. St David's Marist Brothers, a privately-funded South African secondary school, implemented robotics as an in-curriculum non-elective subject for Grade 8 and Grade 9 learners using the RobotScience project's website and videos. This paper presents early results of the implementation of robotics into a private secondary school, including a discussion on the novel approaches taken by teachers in the first season of the implementation.