Over 60 young minds eager to explore the world of digital manufacturing and robotics recently attended a five-day EU-funded training camp from July 1 to 5 at St Joseph Mater Boni Consilii School, Paola, led by professionals in the field of technology.
The Digirobo Camp, an EU-funded initiative under the Erasmusplus KA2 Small-scale Partnerships in School Education, forms part of the Digirobo project that focused on developing, implementing and evaluating a connected European summer school for coding in manufacturing. It explicitly addressed young children without prior knowledge of the subject and educators interested in lifelong learning opportunities.
Two sessions of the camp were held – from July 1 to 3 for students aged 10 to11 and from July 3 to 5 for students aged 12 to 13. During the camp, students were engaged in various hands-on activities, ranging from building and programming dancing robots to creating weather machines and safe locks.
The emphasis on practical learning ensured that the students not only understood theoretical concepts but also applied them in real-world scenarios, while being creative and innovative.
The activities were designed not only to introduce children to the basic concepts of coding and robotics but also emphasised the importance of teamwork and communication. As participants worked through various problem scenarios and project challenges, they were encouraged to collaborate, share ideas and support one another. All the students received a certificate of participation, marking their achievements and newfound skills.
“The activities were designed not only to introduce children to the basic concepts of coding and robotics but also emphasised the importance of teamwork and communication”
The Digirobo project is a result of close collaboration between partners in Estonia and Malta. The University of Tartu and Robootika from Estonia, along with NIN3 Group from Malta, are bringing together their passion for technology and pedagogical insights to create a truly innovative learning experience.
The partnership aims to leverage the educational strengths of both countries to bridge the gap towards quality hands-on and inquiry-based STEAM education, an approach to teaching and learning that combines science, technology, engineering, the arts and math.
In this regard, the impact of the Digirobo Camp extends beyond the immediate learning experience. By providing educators with up-to-date knowledge, tools and techniques in digital manufacturing and robotics, the camp helped them teach these subjects more effectively and efficiently, thereby enhancing student learning.
Access to high-quality training materials and resources ensures that students receive quality STEAM education, preparing them for the rapidly growing fields of digital manufacturing and robotics. This, in turn, benefits the wider community by fostering a well-trained workforce essential for economic growth and development.
A special acknowledgment goes to Kenneth Vella, whose unwavering support was instrumental in the success of the camp. As both the head of the hosting school and Malta’s Ambassador to Estonia and Finland, Dr Vella’s contributions were invaluable.
For more information about the Digirobo Camp and to enrol in future camps, visit www.digirobocamp.com and www.eiet.edu.mt.
Achilina Hasna Chariuc is projects manager, European Institute for Emerging Technologies.
The project is funded by the European Union but the views and opinions expressed are those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the EU or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the EU nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
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