The 12-Year Basic Education free-admission high school entrance system, launched this year, has left many students, parents, and teachers complaining. But some cram school and tutoring operators are finding even bigger business opportunities in it, and even LEGO robotics education providers are among the beneficiaries.
Dr. Player Robotic Lab, which already has a tutoring classroom in Hsinchu, opened its Taichung Gongyi Classroom yesterday. Teacher Turtle, head of the center, said that overseas, designing LEGO toys into all kinds of electric robots has been going on for a long time, while in Taiwan it was introduced only five years ago and then became a trend.
He said that in recent years a robotics craze has swept Taiwan and abroad, and many Taiwanese students have already distinguished themselves at world robotics competitions. Starting this year, some schools in New Taipei City have formally added “robotics” to their curriculum.
Since robotics has become an important trend in industrial development, it is said that Foxconn chairman Terry Gou is also interested in entering the robotics market. This shows that Taiwan will need many skilled people in this field in the future.
Teacher Turtle said that Dr. Player Robotic Lab's teaching uses a variety of LEGO teaching tools and, by age group, offers young children three courses: simple machines, powered machines, and robotics, letting kids understand how robots work through the assembly process and gain the satisfaction and fun of hands-on making. For example, building a robot that can shoot hoops precisely, score soccer goals, and solve a Rubik's Cube in seconds requires science concepts, computer programming, logical thinking, math, and other abilities all at once, and these abilities can be developed from an early age.
Teacher Turtle, who has guided students to multiple awards at robot olympiad competitions, said that students learn problem-solving as they build robots and can use technology and creativity to improve people's lives. In guiding students' learning, teachers take the role of guide, using single-topic lessons or project planning to let students come up with their own ideas and propose creative solutions, and then complete the design and assembly of the robot.