Bridges to Higher Education brings Robotics to Dubbo classrooms
30 May 2013
Using technology to inspire education.
Robotics provides a highly engaging medium for creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication, four essential skills for learning Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) within the curriculum.
As part of the ongoing relationship the University of Sydney's Compass program has with regional schools and communities, Dubbo teachers will have the opportunity to learn the basics of robotic programming using LEGO NXT Robots and LEGO Mindstorms software at a teacher-training workshop at the Dubbo College Senior Campus on Thursday 30 May, hosted by the Bridges to Higher Education program.
Bridges to Higher Education is a unique collaboration which brings together the collective resources and experience of the widening participation, equity and social inclusion programs at five universities; University of Sydney, University of Western Sydney, the University of Technology, Sydney, Macquarie University, and the Australian Catholic University.
Schools participating in the robotics workshop from the Dubbo area are - Dubbo College Senior Campus, Dubbo College Delroy Campus, Dubbo College South Campus, Dubbo Public School and Buninyong Public School.
Each participating school will be offered the loan of a LEGO NXT Robotics Kit for one month to use within the classroom. Each kit is valued at $10,000. These kits include 15 LEGO NXT Robots, teacher resources and a 1.5 hr lesson taught by a qualified robotics trainer via Connected Classrooms video conferencing.
"The Compass program is very pleased to be able to assist in taking this great opportunity out to the Dubbo area as part of the Bridges initiative," said Annette Cairnduff, Director of the Social Inclusion Unit. "Regional students and teachers deserve the same opportunities to access new technologies as their urban counterparts."