Papper the robot, a promoter for a coding and robotics programme, visited Umsebe Primary School and New Ermelo Primary School in Ermelo on June 15.
The schools were visited by members of the Department of Education and Standard Bank to inform learners more about what coding and robotics as a subject entailed.
Coding and robotics is being kick-started in 128 schools in Mpumalanga.
The department has already conducted workshops for teachers and conducted orientation programmes for principals from these schools.
The subject is aimed at helping learners develop a love for technology.
Papper the robot plays a vital role in creating awareness and to develop interest among learners, courtesy of Standard Bank.
According to Ms Zanele Nkala, acting district head of transformation for Mpumalanga Department of Education, the purpose of Robotics and Coding in a curriculum are:
• Coding is essentially written instructions that a robot or computer program can read and then execute.
• Students must determine the task they want to complete through a robot, design the code to make it happen, and then send it to the robot to view the outcome.
• Robotics allows students to see their thinking in a real way as they go through trial and error until the task is accomplished and the robot’s motions are performed as originally intended.
Read the complete article in the Highvelder newspaper.
