The Importance of Teaching Robotics in Schools

The Importance of Teaching Robotics in Schools

In a world that is currently technology-driven, it is essential now more than ever to prepare our students for the future. According to the https://www.universal-robots.com/ website, teaching our young students robotics throughout their schooling comes with a plethora of benefits. These includes increasing the student’s ability to be innovative and creative thinkers as well as more productive members of society.

Because many governments across the globe have recognized the importance of teaching robotics in the classrooms, they have started to create laws and programs that would be incorporated into their public education systems. We have the ability of opening up new worlds to the coming generations by teaching our students the basics of robotics. This also offers them a wide range of exciting opportunities that they would never have access to otherwise. Here are some of the reasons why it is important to teach robotics in schools.

It prepares them for the future

The fastest growing careers include jobs in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) field. As we speak, jobs in this field are projected to grow another 17% in the coming decade. The last couple of years has seen the dramatic and rapid growth of the drone industry. According to The Economist Magazine, more than 15,000 drones are being sold every month in the US alone. With growing industries such as these, there is need for people who can not only come up with fresh innovative ideas but are also equipped with the knowledge to design and build the technology that is needed.

In a few years or so, more than half of the jobs available will be in the STEM field while a huge chunk of the remainder will require employees with knowledge in STEM. The advantage of introducing robotics to students while they are still in their school years is that they get to discover any talents or interests they may have in this job market. Without thus knowledge, there is no way for students to build interest in the field of robotics.

It introduces them to programming

Teaching students to program a computer is an excellent idea because with the skills they acquire, they are more likely to get a job in the future as well as earn more money in their lifetime. Teaching the abstract subject of programming especially to young students can be difficult because it is often too intricate for most students to understand. However, robotics is a more tangible introduction to robotics because it is simpler.

As students learn what robots can and cannot do, they find it easier to see what goes wrong when programming physical robots. In this regard, students learn the skills required to create accurate and precise instructions thus having fun while still learning valuable lessons. It is important to teach students robotics as it gives them the opportunity to address the growing demand of teaching STEM subjects while still learning how math, engineering, technology and science interact and work together.

It promotes inclusivity

As a field that is easily accessible to a wide range of students with different skills and talents, robotics is a big promoter of inclusivity. According to studies, robots do a great job of engaging children with developmental disabilities such as autism. Autistic children have the ability to easily respond to the consistent calm and clean interactions that only robots offer them. There are special kinds of robots that have been developed to assist students who have autism with learning, understanding and processing their emotions.

In addition, the field of robotics possesses the ability to empower young girls in classrooms. Traditionally dominated by men, career fields that are STEM-focused leave young girls questioning their ability to build and program computers. To change this narrative, there is a need to engage girls in technology and robotics in the classroom. As a result,  more young women will become empowered and have thriving futures as well as create innovative technologies.

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