media releases - Unisa's 2012 First Lego League Challenge

Unisa’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) invites members of the media to the 2012 First Lego League challenge (FLL) to be held at the ZK Matthews Great Hall, Unisa Muckleneuk Campus at 08:30 to 16:00, on Saturday, 27 October 2012.

36 teams from the Northern Gauteng Region, 10 of whom will be representing Unisa, will be competing against each other for a berth at the national event by building robots and completing certain challenges in under two and half minutes. 

The teams will comprise teams of up to ten children between the ages of 9 and 16 who will compete with their robots, using Lego Mindstorms kits, on a challenge field designed to simulate challenges faced by elderly people.

The children will be judged on the research they did into the challenges faced by the elderly and based on the innovation solutions they have come up with for these challenges. They will also be judged on technical explanation of why the designed, built and programmed their robots according to its specifications as well as on application of the First Lego League values of professionalism and team work.    

The 2012 challenge, taking place under the theme “Senior Solutions”, is made up of three parts, i.e., the Robot Game, the Project and the First Lego League Core Values. Previous challenges were based on topics such as nanotechnology, climate, quality of life for the handicapped population, transportation and food security. 

The main aim is to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. To this end, accessible and innovative programs are designed in areas such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics, while simultaneously building self-confidence, knowledge and life skills.

There are currently 30 000 robotics teams worldwide, with 110 based in South Africa. 10 of these are supported by Unisa’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CEST). Given the critical shortage of skills in South Africa in science and technology, CSET is part of the drive to ensure the nurturing of skills in these areas from a younger age.

CSET has thus invested time and support to ten teams representing a diversity of communities. Amongst these teams are three (3) teams from Tertia King Academy in Tembisa, two (2) from Bokgoni Technical High School in Atteridgeville, one (1) from Gustav Preller Primary School in Florida, one (1) from Pretoria Boys High in Pretoria and three (3) from Glenstantia Primary School in Pretoria.

Learners are taken through a series of workshops covering aspects of robotics, research and team work; provided in conjunction with other subject matter experts from colleges within Unisa as well as partners such as the Tshwane University of Technology.    

Enquiries: Yvonne Tlholwe (012) 429-8268/i-set@unisa.ac.za. Or visit  http://www.youtube.com/isetcommunity

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