Roaming robots in Laois libraries
Six libraries around Laois held exciting Robotic workshops recently
WHOEVER said that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) were boring subjects, just for nerds geeks or bookworms.
Well it certainly wasn’t the case in six libraries around Laois recently where exciting STEM robotics workshops were held.
The Laois STEM Engagement Officer Seanie Morris visited six library branches across the county to host robot building, engineering and driving taster sessions with families in Abbeyleix, Mountmellick, Mountrath, Portarlington, Portlaoise and Rathdowney.
Families with children ranging in age from eight to 14 came along, grabbed a kit to build a remote controlled BaseBot using the VEX IQ build system and then drove it around the libraries. In some of the branches others took part in a game of Robot Red Light Green Light where coding capabilities of their robots and how computer programming works were demonstrated.
Mr Morris said: Laois County Council will continue to deliver VEX IQ Robotics system to Laois primary schools and that since last September up to the end of July this year, 22 primary and all 10 secondary schools in Laois have received a kit.
Mr Morris said: “As part of Laois’s Pathway to Just Transition, reaching out to children with the taster STEM activities like coding, robotics and engineering will help them get interested in these skills and carry them through school.”
“These skills,” said Mr Morris, “are vital for our region’s economic growth towards a just transition to lowering our carbon footprint with new advanced-manufacturing methods of production and sustainability. The pupils of today will become the skilled workforce of the future.”
He said that kits and other activities and ongoing supports will be provided to teachers and pupils, including the VEX IQ Robotics Competition.
“Our STEM Engagement Team will continue to liaise with schools from this September to encourage participation in and the uptake of our STEM programmes by hosting robotics, coding and engineering initiatives with pupils on a regular basis throughout the academic year,” said Mr Morris.
