Hands-on education in robotics for talented youth in developing countries
Aleksandar Stefanovski, Rhys Price Jones · Journal of computing sciences in colleges · 2011
This paper describes the design and implementation of an international educational program Roboteka: In Step with the Future. This program was established to empower talented youth, ages 10 to 16, in developing countries who are strongly interested in science and technology. Funded largely by a USAID grant, the objective of the program was to bring hands-on experience with robotics and computer science to the youth. During the first summer, Roboteka's summer camp participants were challenged to invent practical applications of computer science and robotics, and concurrently to think about solving the problems of everyday life through games, critical thinking, education, teamwork, friendship, and other activities. Although the first year's pilot program was intentionally without formal controls or performance metrics, exit interviews revealed high satisfaction among most participants, both the youth and the staff. Future camps will come to use more formal methods to measure performance and draw formal conclusions.