STEM Education for Girls: Part 2 - Robotics

Research and Development Foundation
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Goals

Problem statement:

The current project builds on the previous project "STEM Education for Girls," supported by Orbeliani Foundation and SIDA in 2016/2017. We aim to further improve the access of girls to include robotics.

STEM subjects, especially robotics, are indispensable if we want children to be equipped with the necessary skills to compete and be successful. In Telavi, at this stage there are no after-school programs in robotics.

LEGO's robotics program is aimed at improving the creativity of the students through building models and programming them. They learn to think logically and see causality. Students are not only able to program the models they construct but also find solutions to problems.

As in the case of other STEM subjects, robotics is often considered as a 'boy's' subject.' This translates to a latent discrimination of girls in these programs. We believe that such stereotypical attitudes need to be changed, and introduction of robotics classes for girls will serve this purpose. Besides, since the program will be open both to girls and boys, it will improve access of Telavi students' to innovative educational resources in general.

Proposed Solution:

After introducing students to constructing machines and finding mechanical solutions (previous program funded by Orbeliani Georgia/Sida), the current project plans to introduce LEGO Education robotics program in Telavi, in order to ensure continuity in the education and achieve more sustainable educational results.

As a result of participation in the program, three major results are planned to be achieved:

1) provide LEGO Education program to students (both boys and girls),
2) counter stereotypical attitudes limiting access of girls to STEM education
3) improve access to education in Telavi

We already have a group of students - both girls and boys - who are actively involved in the machines and mechanics program and they will be our target. At the same time, project will actively work with new students to publicize the program's goals and benefits in order to attract more students and make the issue of gender discrimination more visible among Telavi population. To achieve that, the project will hold information session with interested parties.

The program will open at least two classes in the autumn of 2017 in robotics: 8, 45-minute classes per month. Girls' tuition is free of charge while boys' tuition is calculated as a symbolic fee to cover only for the rent/instructors fees.

The program requires 4 basic and 2 additional LEGO sets (one set is for two students) and laptops, to allow students to program the models. While we will be providing necessary laptops, we are still requesting two additional laptops to ensure that students have access to programming technology. The total requested amount will be only slightly higher than 2000 once the taxed are deducted and we will cover the difference.

Sustainability:

The program will continue and will be offered regularly to Telavi students after the end of the agreement with Orbeliani Georgia through Research and Development Foundation's services, and will provide an alternative platform to improve educational facilities and access to the innovative educational approaches to Telavi students.

Equal gender opportunity:

Both girls and boys will have equal access to the program.

Items Needed

Item Description Vendor Info Total Purchased?
Notebook Acer TravelMate B115 Notebook(Windows+Office)

Acer TravelMate B115-M-C7HW - Intel Celeron Dual-Core N2830 2.16~2.41GHz (2-Cores, 2-Threads, 1MB Cache), 2GB DDR3 1333MHz Memory (Onboard), 32GB eMMC, 11.6" HD LED-backlit Anti-Glare Display with 1366 x 768 Resolution, Intel HD Graphics; Gigabit Ethernet, Wireless 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0; Webcam, Card Reader, Audio Combo Jack, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.0, HDMI, RJ-45, Card Reader, Webcam, 3-cell Li-ion Battery, Weight: 1.3kg, Windows 8.1 Pro, Office Pro Academic 2013, 1 Year Warranty [p/n NX.VACER.001]

pcshop.ge

#2 Marjanishvili st. Tbilisi, Georgia

+995 32 292-19-59
449,00 ₾
WeDo კონსტრუქტორი

ეს ნაკრები, პროგრამულ უზრუნველყოფასთან ერთად WeDo software v.1.2., წარმოადგენს რობოტიკის შესავალს. ბავშვი შეძლებს ააწყოს ლეგოს მოდელები ძრავებითა და სენსორებით, დააპროგრამოს მოდელები, იკვლიოს სხვადასხვა შემეცნებითი თემა მეცნიერებაში, ტექნოლოგიაში, ინჟინერიასა და მათემატიკაში.

მექანიკურ დეტალებთან ერთად ნაკრებში მოთავსებულია USB hub, ძრავი, ინფრაწითელი და გადახრის სენსორები.

დამხმარე ნაკრები შეიცავს მექანიკური დეტალების ფართო არჩევანს მასშტაბური კონსტრუქციების ასაგებად; ის გამოიყენება პროდუქტთან 9580 ერთად. ეს ნაკრები შესაძლებელს ხდის, STEM განათლება შემდეგ დონეზე გადაიყვანოთ – ბავშვს შესაძლებლობა ეძლევა დაიწყოს მუშაობა რთული ამოცანების გადაჭრაზე.

http://www.ledu.ge/produqcia/article/14858-wedo

http://www.ledu.ge/produqcia/article/14859-wedo-resource-set

Junior Innovations Solutions

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www.ledu.ge

+995 577 78 71 70
1 634,00 ₾
Notebook Acer TravelMate B115 Notebook(Windows+Office)

Acer TravelMate B115-M-C7HW - Intel Celeron Dual-Core N2830 2.16~2.41GHz (2-Cores, 2-Threads, 1MB Cache), 2GB DDR3 1333MHz Memory (Onboard), 32GB eMMC, 11.6" HD LED-backlit Anti-Glare Display with 1366 x 768 Resolution, Intel HD Graphics; Gigabit Ethernet, Wireless 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0; Webcam, Card Reader, Audio Combo Jack, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.0, HDMI, RJ-45, Card Reader, Webcam, 3-cell Li-ion Battery, Weight: 1.3kg, Windows 8.1 Pro, Office Pro Academic 2013, 1 Year Warranty [p/n NX.VACER.001]

pcshop.ge

#2 Marjanishvili st. Tbilisi, Georgia

+995 32 292-19-59
449,00 ₾

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Comments

Research and Development Foundation Classes resumed in the first week of February, with a third group of students. As for the number of students - existing number of lego sets does not allow to have more than 6 students in the class. The interest is quite high and we plan to add new classes as soon as the old ones finish the course. https://www.facebook.com/pg/randdfoundation/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1797779567194220
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Keti Khachidze Great job! Im wondering why there are so few students? Is it because there is low demand/interest in Telavi, or is it due to the lack of resources, either lego sets or HR resources?
Reply
Keti Khachidze Great job! Im wondering why there are so few students? Is it because there is low demand/interest in Telavi, or is it due to the lack of resources, either lego sets or HR resources?
Reply
Research and Development Foundation Classes are conducted regularly, students get familiar with programming basics, how to program tilt and motion sensors, with assignments becoming more diverse and difficult. Videos and photos of the classes are posted on Research and Development Foundation FB page. Here are links of couple of videos: https://www.facebook.com/randdfoundation/videos/1770298003275710/ https://www.facebook.com/randdfoundation/videos/1769522503353260/ https://www.facebook.com/randdfoundation/videos/1761702087468635/
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Research and Development Foundation Second group started classes on November, 14th, there are two girls and three boys in the group. First class continues to have regular classes twice a week and students are already able to create simple and medium difficulty algorithm and program the models. Photos and videos of the classes are regularly uploaded on Research and Development Foundation's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/randdfoundation/
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Research and Development Foundation Photos of the first class can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=ms.c.eJxFj8EJAEEIAzs61KhZ~_2~%3BswGX1O0wSooxMHlAhDpdPL3B4gpl8INCG~_RjRAPYA9HbkA~_bdcQaADYgBdiOxBosqkjvbkeCutKG2K90RUxrGolTpGOiI7bkbAX7U8jPb.bps.a.1756678207971023.1073742038.1580916182213894&type=3
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Research and Development Foundation The first group started classes on October, 24, there are two girls and two boys in the group. Instruction to all students is provided free of charge. Overall, there are two 45-minute classes per week, the length of the program is two months. Students learn the basics of programming, what an algorithm is, how to build a sequence in order for a program to run.
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Research and Development Foundation The necessary items for the program have been purchased. The project team is getting familiarized with the teaching syllabus and software. The registration for the program will start late August-early September, till then no major activities of the project are envisaged.
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