Unisa online - I-SET coach and mentor information day

Back, from left: Philip Haas (Hands on Technologies), Patricia Gouws (I-SET co-ordinator), Dalize van Heerden (I-SET co-ordinator) and Prof Gugu Moche (Executive Dean: CSET). Front, from left: Dr Vera Roos (School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences, Department of Psychology, from North-West University) and Dr Louise van Scheers (College of Economic and Management Sciences)

I-SET invited a number of schools, potential sponsors and other interested parties to a coach and mentor information day on 19 May 2012 in the Senate Hall at Unisa. 

The intention of the event was to connect the dots for any interested potential and existing lego robotics coaches and mentors, and their sponsors so that the number of schools that offer robotics and the inspiration of Science, Engineering and Technology (I-SET) increases.

The participants were welcomed by Prof Moche, the Executive Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. The presentations started with an overview of robotics in education and how this fitted in with the critical outcomes and CAPS curriculum statement by Dawn Crawford of the Department of Education.

Patricia Gouws, I-SET co-ordinator and robotics team coach, explained dynamics and the realities of starting and building a team. Her presentation also included an Africa reality; there are only 110 teams in Africa, compared to about 18 000 teams world-wide.

Dr Louise van Scheers, Associate Professor from the College of Economic and Management Sciences at Unisa continued the team focus and explained the realities of on-going marketing and of securing sponsorship for a robotics team.

After a short networking break, the audience was introduced to Philip Haas from Hands on Technologies, who explained the robotic requirements (and current shortages) of a team, as well as their participation in community projects. Patricia Gouws then explained how to teach a robotics team (the programming as well as the building), taking the teamwork approach of collaboration and critical thinking into account. 

CSET lego league team members explaining the FLL details to all participants.

Prof Mamokgethi Setati (Vice-Principal: Research and Innovation), giving I-SET the thumbs up for encouraging children to do research.

It is important to remember that the children need to do the thinking and doing; the coaches do the guiding. Another longer networking break saw delegates discovering and discussing the details of the WRO 2012 Challenge and FLL table requirements over a light lunch. CSET robotics team members were on hand to explain the finer details from the team perspective.

After lunch, the delegates were re-energised by Prof Mamokgethi Setati, Vice-Principal: Research and Innovation, who explained how to get children interested and involved in research. Research is not just about finding the information, it is about validating it through referencing, and ensuring that ethics are maintained at all times. This is vital, especially considering the FLL 2012 Challenge of Senior Solution that requires research around old people.

The audience was then entertained by an ice-breaker and an edu-drama, presented by Dr Vera Roos and her students from the School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences, Department of Psychology, from North-West University. The older generation related issues of context, policies, challenges and the developmental, social and psychological needs.

The final two sessions were taken by Johannes de Vries (Africa partner for the FIRST Lego League) and Johan Benade (WRO co-ordinator for South Africa), both from TUT. They discussed the relevance and differences between the two types of competitions (WRO and FLL), as well as the administrative and technical requirements for each. Both identified the needs and plans to grow robotics in Africa – especially within collaborations such as I-SET.

Participants gained much from the day and the next I-SET event is in its planning stage.  The photographs may be viewed on the I-SET FB page (facebook.com/isetlego) and comments may be followed on Twitter #isetlego.  The videos of previous FLL competitions hosted at Unisa may be viewed on the Unisa CSET Community Engagement page.