Written by
Ava Akbarian
Robotics is a component of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Robotics is a branch of STEM involving the design, construction, operation and application of robots.
Credit: IMDA Singapore, Tech Explainer | What is Robotics?
Students engineer and operate machines that can semi-autonomously or autonomously perform tasks.
Robotics education is a popular and innovative way for schools to teach core STEM skills. These skills include design, programming, problem solving and engineering.
Robotics is often a niche way to address general STEM curriculum requirements in Australia.
The Australian Curriculum includes ‘Data, robots and computational thinking’ as part of the digital technologies component. This is targeted at students in Years 2-4.
However robotics in Australia is a wide and varied subject area. Robotics can even begin in preparatory/kindy years using simple robots to learn directional terminology till the final years of High School.
In Queensland State Schools, robotics and coding is compulsory for students.
According to Robotics Australia Group, the Australian robotics industry employs over 765,000 people a year, making up almost 5% of Australia’s working population.
Robotics students can also move into other STEM careers including building, coding or robotics.
Students gain STEM related skills at school
Students learn coding skills
Students learn problem solving skills
Robotics encourages creative thinking
Increased opportunities in the workforce, with growing need for STEM skills in Australia
Engaging learning for students through hands-on practical experiences
Robotics courses and extracurricular clubs are growing in popularity across Australian schools.
Barker College’s Redbacks Robotics team is a unique program available to students from Year 3.
Credit: Barker Redbacks FRC Team 4613 – Robot Reveal 2022
“In January 2021, a year complicated by the pandemic, a small team of students from Barker College Years 9, 10 and 11, took on the world in an International Robotics building competition. Following strict competition guidelines and rules, the Redbacks designed, engineered, built and programmed a fully customised robot from scratch. The team and their robot competed in the Australian National Championships before qualifying for the World Championships, winning the prestigious Chairman’s Award and being one of just two teams inducted into the FIRST Hall of Fame.”
“In January 2021, a year complicated by the pandemic, a small team of students from Barker College Years 9, 10 and 11, took on the world in an International Robotics building competition.
Following strict competition guidelines and rules, the Redbacks designed, engineered, built and programmed a fully customised robot from scratch. The team and their robot competed in the Australian National Championships before qualifying for the World Championships, winning the prestigious Chairman’s Award and being one of just two teams inducted into the FIRST Hall of Fame.”
Their Excellencies, The Governor-General and Mrs Hurley presented the Barker College Redbacks with the FIRST Hall of Fame Award at a special presentation event held at Admiralty House, Kirribilli earlier in the year.
“The team showcased an impressive set of skills: in decision-making, planning, research and development, organisation, and the ability to work as part of a team and persevere. I congratulate them on their achievement and look forward to what they will achieve in the future,” His Excellency said.
About
Ava works as a Digital Writer for School Choice Magazine as well as a a contributor to the annual ‘Choosing a School Magazine’.