Simon Riley is on a mission to get kids into coding. With a background in database and design
and data access he readily admits coding can be "dull as
ditchwater" but through a combination of robotics, cars, gadgets and games he's
hoping to change that.
Riley is CEO of MakerClub, a Brighton-based
company that specialises in 3D printed robotics. Having been awarded £80,000 in funding
as part of the government's Innovate
UK programme, Riley and his team are working on a new way to teach coding in schools.
In collaboration with pedagogy experts at the
University of Brighton, local teachers and user experience
specialists, they're building a learning platform that focuses on
programming, electronics and computer-aided design.
"Rather than the usual step-by-step construction
guide, we want to create a living environment where older makers
can teach younger through streaming video and live chat," Riley
explains. Students can then upload their own robots for others to
buy or use, with building instructions and other material hosted on
a wiki-style website.
"On top of this there is also the secondary learning
of maths, physics, as
well as softer skills such as collaboration, problem solving and
entrepreneurship. The maths comes in, for example, with our
catapult -- once the kids have put it together and programmed it
they can calculate distances, trajectories and all the various
forces involved.
"Equally with the car, kids will be able to see
using real data, the relationship between acceleration and speed,
or that by reducing the mass, the acceleration can be
increased."
The projects are simple but sneak in important lessons
about physics, programming and robotics along the way. For Riley
this trick is crucial to getting kids enthusiastic about what can
seem a dull subject.
"Being able to see the effects of what you're learning
immediately makes a big difference in terms of retention of
knowledge and interest, when compared to more traditional,
theoretical teaching.
"Our take on it is that we need to show fun and
exciting aspects first, so that it's immediately clear why it's
worth investing time in learning the more academic or structured
sides of things."
The computing curriculum in both primary and
secondary schools has been getting a lot of attention recently and
Riley feels that it was neglected for far too long. That's starting
to change. Initiatives such as MakerClub along with CodeClub, CoderDojo and the wider revamp of
the computing curriculum is bringing it more up to date. But
there's still some way to go and what's being taught now already
risks becoming redundant in the next decade.
"We believe that coding is only part of the picture.
We see the future is more in the internet of things and that
product design and hardware design will be essential tools on top
of website development in the next five to ten years."
Riley is delighted to see some schools already
investing in 3D printers, while most have a decent suite of
computers and "more iPads than you can shake a stick at".
"Our mission is to make it as easy as possible for a
teacher to either start an after school club, or bring our projects
into the classroom, and learn these new technologies with the kids,
using our platform."
The use of cutting-edge technology in schools does
have risks. A report published by the government last year raised
concerns that the technology would be pointless if teachers didn't
know how to use it. Riley says that the newness of technology
should never be a barrier to entry.
"Our take from this is that training and support
are essential for the introduction to be a success, but that
printers are of a level now of reliability and simplicity, that
they are ready to be introduced."
Don't
miss
There's no confirmed cost for the programme but Riley
says it will be affordable for schools that want to take part. Most
of the parts needed come from a 3D printer so school's will be able
to print their own and the use of apps and video live chat also
helps keep it affordable.
"We firmly believe that 3D printers are coming and
will be here to stay, and that now is the right time to be teaching
our kids, so that we are ahead of the game instead of playing
catch-up as we are with coding."
MakerClub will be trialling its new learning programme from 2015
onwards. More details are available on the MakerClub website.
Source Article from http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-11/28/makerclub-3d-printed-robots-teach-coding http://cdni.wired.co.uk/620x413/k_n/makerclub3_2.jpg
How robots and 3D printing are making coding fun
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