Young Engineers in the Making at SIBF 2017

The world is rapidly moving towards an age when robotics, artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies will be fully integrated into everyday lives, and the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2017) seems to be wasting no time in getting the UAE’s future generations with the programme.    Little nerdlings who love their Lego blocks and have a knack for exploring technology had the time of their lives when the two combined at an exciting Lego robotics workshop at SIBF 2017 this Saturday.    Conducted by Nick Hawken, a former primary school teacher from Bolton, England, who set up JuniorSTEM Primary Robotics a couple of years, the workshop taught its participants valuable practical skills of engineering and programming by using the Lego WeDo 2.0 technology.       In a step-by-step process, children were first taught how to recognise the correct Lego pieces for their project; learning how to distinguish studs from holes, finding the right axles for them, and so on. They were also warmed up to the basics of programming for their project, which included motor controls, lights, sound, backgrounds, and text.     “All our activities are hands on, highly engaging and allow children to approach problem solving creatively. They are encouraged to play, experiment and try things out within a structured and organised learning environment. My workshops aim to inspire children to consider robotics as a future career,” Hawken remarked.    Children were paired up and had a jolly time building elaborate military tanks with Lego blocks, and then controlling their movements with the Lego WeDo 2.0 programming software.    “I did this Lego robotics thing at school, where we made this alligator that opened its mouth with the robotics that came from computers. I have Lego blocks at home and I play with Lego at least eight or nine times a week,” said a boy from Grade 3 who came all the way from Dubai to get his fill of Lego robotics.    When asked how he knows how to put the tiny blocks together the 8-year-old says, “I just know.”