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getting schools involved
Thanks, Penny for a very accurate and well-summarised account
of the hurdles confronting schools when they get involved in
extra-curricular robo/techno activities.
The points she makes are absolutely valid and I urge
representitives of Robofesta, Micromouse, Technogames (and others) to take
note.
Of course, as Penny also explains, a keen teacher is the only
reason why these activities ever take place within schools in the first place
and they are almost invariably carried out as extra-curricular events - many
initiatives have tried to integrate this stuff into the teaching curriculum but,
within the secondary environment, when you are constrained by pressures of GCSEs
and results tables it doesn't work. So a keen teacher prepared to put in
the extra hours (for no extra pay) is essential. Therefore, any
science/robotics events (eg Robofesta, STEM, Technogames, DATA etc.) must work
with teachers and not set down their own rules and schedules without any
liaison.
Thanks, Bill, for your precis of the Robofesta
meeting.
And good luck, Penny, with the inspection - you'll be fine,
assuming your inspector recognises quality Electronics education when he sees
it!
Chris Walker.