LEGO League Junior: An Róbó Seó (The Robot Show)
Topic/ Area
Robotics
Date released
01/09/2018-2021
Type of Best Practice
PD/ Training Programme
Partners/ network
Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada,
Gaelscoil Naomh Pádraig,
Gaelscoil na Camóige,
Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich,
Scoil Uí Dhálaigh
Scoil Uí Riada,
Dublin City University,
Schools Digital Excellence Fund
- Country: Ireland
- Purpose: To provide primary school students with an opportunity to learn about artificial intelligence and robotics in a practical and theoretical manner.
Description of the methods/ approach
The LEGO League Junior event: The Robot Show (An Róbó Seó) was a project funded by the Schools Digital Excellence Fund to teach primary students, through the Irish language, how to build robots to be launched at a demonstrative show held in Dublin City University.
Purpose/Aim
The purpose of this project is for primary school students to develop AI-STEM competences through the learning and developing of Lego® robots. Robotics education facilitates learning environments of computational thinking, ICT skills, and introduces the functions of artificial intelligence. By holding an event to showcase the development of their robots, primary school students gained an incentive to exhibit the building of their AI-STEM skills.
Evaluation (results) of its effectiveness
As the project is still in progress, there are currently no conclusive evaluation indicators. At the exhibit in 2019, educators analysed how students successfully developed STEM competences which would ‘ignite passions for STEM education’ through this initiative.
Overview of the lessons learned which are relevant to the project
Through this project, students had the opportunity to apply a “hands-on approach” to artificial intelligence learning. By understanding the functionalities of AI and learning how to create AI technology, students can develop their innovation, creativity, and problem-solving competences. Through an inquiry-based learning approach, primary school teachers were able to facilitate learning environments that fostered computational skills.
