L ELAORBNAI LN C G GI T I Z E N S H I P
GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
UNPLUGGED ROBOTICS BY NOND By Nond Phokasub, 12L
Unplugged Robotics by Nond is a CAS service project that aims to improve the effectiveness of teaching Robotics and Computing Science in rural Thai schools, especially in younger audiences.
R
obotics has become increasingly more important in our day-to-day lives and will inevitably play a larger role in the future. Therefore, Robotics knowledge will definitely be important for our generation and those to come. Indeed, Robotics itself is a compulsory subject in Thai education for Primary Schools. However, a few issues, which mainly include limited budgets and lack of student interest, have challenged the teaching of Robotics in younger year groups at Thai schools, especially those in rural areas. In an effort to overcome these issues, I have initiated the Unplugged Robotics project to create fun-filled and affordable teaching equipment that can support the learning of Robotics, Computing Science and basic coding. My project involves the process of developing an abstract idea into a manufactured product. Essentially, the concept of this project brings the worlds of Design and Technology and Computer Science together through design thinking and coding, representing the beauty of interdisciplinary approaches. During this academic year, I have developed a range of activities with various difficulties to help support teaching students in the age range of 8-10 years. Similar to a Design and Technology project, I did research on the Thai curriculum and had several meetings with my main clients – teachers 20
• Bangkok Patana School