Gateway Kids School of Computing, the pioneer in IT training for kids, has once again come up with a novel concept in introducing Robotics to children from eight years upwards with the use of Lego Mindstorms units. As an organization that encourages and motivates boys and girls to be innovative, Gateway believes that this new programme will set the trend to new and exciting ways of learning. Gateway has a track record of producing many Gold, Silver and Bronze winners at the Young Computer Scientist competitions over the last so many years.
 Robotics can be used to encourage kids to think creatively, analyse situations and apply critical thinking and problem solving skills to real world problems. Most curricula use robotics to introduce students to the STEM concepts (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Teamwork and co-operation are cornerstones of any robotics project.
Robots fascinate children and adults alike and are popular due to their presence in TV, movies, and literature. Their applications in numerous areas like industry, medical care, housekeeping, area exploration, etc. are also well covered in the media. Many of our kids already have experiences with LEGO building and the Lego Mindstorms platform represents an ideal tool for learning robotics for the first time.
The NXT set consists of structural and mechanical building parts such as beams, pins, axels, gear wheels, the NXT “intelligent brick”, motors and sensors. The “intelligent brick” is a programmable device with monochrome LCD screen, built-in loudspeaker, and plugs to connect up to three motors and four sensors. Programs can be downloaded onto the brick when it is connected to a PC via USB.
The hardware can be controlled by using a graphic programming language named NXT-G available from LEGO. It can be easily grasped and allows the children to control their robots without any previous knowledge on programming. While the NXT-G environment also allows sophisticated programs using data flow concepts, basic development features are presented in a simple way. Experience shows that even young children can quickly develop rather complex robot behavior using these tools.
 Gateway hopes to introduce Robotics through three fun filled age appropriate workshops; Beginners for 8 to 11 year olds, Intermediate for 11 to 14 year olds and Advanced for 14 years and above. These workshops will lead a beginner through planning, building and programming robots to perform various tasks and problems. Each workshop consists of six – 3 hour modules.
Students at the Beginners level will discover the many features, functions and capabilities of the robotic platform and will learn about the different Lego bricks and components in addition to developing their problem-solving and teamwork skills. The workshops teach participants robotic construction and programming skills and the use of motors and sensors. They will build and program robot vehicles, a robot mouse trap and even a robot Cricketer.
At the intermediate level, participants continue their journey in discovering more capabilities of the NXT platform. They use their imagination and problem-solving skills to build Lego Mindstorms robots that move around a room without bumping into obstacles, an intruder detection robot that shoots at the intruder and even a “Sumo Bot” that pushes an opponent out of a sumo ring!
At the Advanced set of workshops, participants build a variety of different robots and robotic contraptions, honing their construction and imagination skills. These modules introduce participants to more advanced programming for the NXT platform. By using a combination of sensors, as well as programming concepts such as data hubs, multitasking and logic statements, participants can significantly enhance the capability of their robot and program it to achieve more complex tasks. Participants will build and program robot units such as forklifts, a robot that can follow a coloured line, a robot that will stay on a table without falling off etc.
The Robotics workshops are to be initially conducted at the Colombo branches of the Gateway Kids Schools and at Gateway College Rajagiriya. They are open to students who are currently studying at Gateway as well as new comers. The Robotics team is willing to conduct these workshops even in other schools if there are specific requests. Further details can be obtained by calling Surani, on 2670670 or writing to surani.maithripala@gateway.lk
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