Consider robotics not only as an enabler of STEM education but also as an obvious trump card for a bright future

Screen time is the greatest nightmare of today's parental generation. What if the same screen time can be turned into something productive? No, we are not talking about facetime with old nannies. Robotics, an offshoot of mechanical engineering, computer science, and artificial intelligence combined, is the new kid on the block to captivate the imagination of the young generation all for the right reasons. While the older generation would be wondering,' we never had to play with computers to become software engineers', the alpha generation is well ahead in making predictions for future technologies, and making a robot from scratch is only a means to visualize their ideas. It is not the expectations for STEM education that is driving their interest but a genuine interest in robotics, for it offers a healthy combination of physical and mental activity.

Importance of Robotics in STEM education

Robotics integrates STEM subjects into one, which has been studied separately for ages. 'Dull' and 'boring' are the two words generally attributed to science subjects. They do not find any practical application in the everyday lives of children and so get averse to engaging with pointless theory cramming and problem solving. A paper published in the international journal of STEM education, explains how informal education can generate interest in STEM subjects. Robotics perfectly match this style of learning, making a child curious enough to relate classroom concepts with practical applications.

Schools are fast adapting to this trend not just to inculcate scientific vigour but also to modernise the teaching methodology right from the elementary level. Companies like Kinderlab Robotics, Wonder Workshop, RoboLink, etc, are exclusively making robots for Edtech industry, with programs related to science and technology to make learning interactive and engaging at the school level. STEM learning demands critical thinking and problem solving and through robotics a child learns to approach the knowledge he gains with a solution-oriented approach gaining skills of reason and logic in the process.

Robotics for Autistic kids:

The appeal of edtech robots lies in the way they can adjust to a child's learning abilities. This quality gains immense importance when it comes to teaching autistic children. The needs of autistic children vary vastly when compared to normal kids. They have difficulty in using verbal and communication skills to engage with the environment around them and forget about learning STEM subjects. QTrobot, designed by AI startup LuxAI, is made specifically for autism students to impart knowledge through engagement sessions. Artificially Intelligent Robots someday might be able to decipher their language and enable a meaningful learning pattern in STEM subjects.

How is it significant for Gen Alpha?

Ask a 10-year-old artistically inclined child what he wants to be when grows up. The probable answer would be, a 3D graphic novelist or an AI artist. These answers would definitely perplex the elders but this is the reality. The current generation of kids may live a life co-habiting with artificial intelligence, go places like Mars and Moon like a regular traveler, and may also transform into a humanoid robot. The possibilities are many. The coming few years will see technological advancements like never before. AI will become so dominant that it becomes difficult to isolate STEM faculties from others. Therefore, it is fair enough to consider robotics not only as an enabler of STEM education but also as an obvious trump card for a bright future.