A national robotics competition as a precursor to a worlwide championship for schools may help to nurture the UAE's budding scientist
The school day is long over but Mohammed Imaad and two friends are still hard at work somewhere in their school premises. For the past two weeks the trio have been staying on beyond class hours to finish a project which they say is also a shared passion building a robot.
"It is sometimes frustrating because if we get something wrong we have to dismantle it and build it again," says 17 year old Imaad , a 12 grade student at Dubai Modern High School in Jumeirah. "But this project is special to us."
On October 4 Imaad and his friends will showcase their creation at the UAE National Robotics Olympiad the country's first ever robotics competition at the World Robotics Olympiad a contest for young scientists from all over the world.
But before they even think of facing off with other young geniuses from around the globe, Imaad and his friends have to work at perfecting their model.
"It is basically a lot of trial and error, "says 16 year old Arjun Menon an eleventh grader who is a science fiction fan.
The robot built using special Lego bricks is programmed by software specially created for the purpose by the Danish Lego Mindstorms the product consists pf a range of "intelligent bricks" that enables users to build and programme moving robots.
"It will take time to perfect the movements," says Pawan Kumar another grade 11 student who wants to be a computer engineer. "The robot has to complete the tasks that has been (set) and achieve the target without a hitch."
The three future engineer s target is to create a robot that will trace a line on a miniature playground cross intersections grab a mini rubbish bin and then return while following traffic instructions on the track.
Hi-tech education
"Our aim is to create interest among school children in robotics," says Shameema Parveen knowledge officer at Edutech organizers of the UAE National Robotics Olympiad. "We want to create excitement among schools in the use of technology in the learning process," she adds.
"Science and technology are fundamental to the development of our knowledge society," says ASF Karim managing director of the company. "With robotics being used extensively in their curriculum more and more students are opting for scifence and technology in schools in the country and their number has been growing steadily."
At Dubai Modern High School the number of students signing up for Robotics Club is institute's robotics instructor Gulshan Riyaz.
"There is more interest now than ever before," she says. "The students are very curious and willing to learn. This is a good way to develop their creative and building skills."
Vinay Nagaraj, Jobin Jacob and Hussain Aslam Contractor all 13 year olds are robot model. Though younger the robot enthusiasts will compete with Imaad and his team at the contest.
"Im not scared," says Nagaraj a ninth grade student who wants to become an electrical engineer. "We are also working very hard and we want to win."
The boys have been putting in at least three hours after school to complete their model. Nagaraj's friend Jacob says he has dreams of making it big as a computer hardware engineer while Aslam Contractor says he wants to be manager of a company.
Encouraging robotics
"The UAE is in the throes of becoming the centre of education in the Middle East," says Edutech's Parveen.
"And as usage of robotics in schools around the world grows we wanted to be one of the first to encourage that trend."
According to her company the UAE is the only country in the gulf that has been invented to participate in the World Robot Olympiad.
"It is a testament to the country's increasing reputation as a knowledge hub and centre of excellence for technical expertise," officials say.
Dubai Modern High School is sending two terms to the competition. "As a future oriented discipline robotics is integral to today's technology learning," says its principal Darryl Blout. "It is important that students are familiar with the concept...so they can build on that foundation in later years.
"We lay special emphasis on robotics and we constantly seek to promote scientific inquisitiveness among our students," he continue. "Robotics enhances critical thinking skills in your minds."
Adnan Eissa Abbas the principal of Al Nahda National School in Abu Dhabi has a team taking part. "We want to introduce young people to the fun and excitement of science and technology," he says. "At the same time we are building self confidence knowledge and life skills."
Beyond the classroom
Dubai American Academy in al Barsha is also sending a team.
"We want our students to apply what they are learning in school to experiences beyond the classroom," says Amy Smith the institute's instructional technology director.
"It is important to engage then in concrete challenges that enrich learning collaboration and communications skills that are essential tools for future employment."
Last week Edutech conducted a workshop for some 12 schools that have enlisted so far the robotics competition. " The children had a lot of questions and their enthusiasm was very encouraging," Parveen reports.
Besides their robot designs the contest will test participants creative and problem solving skills. The winners will go on to represents the UAE at an international level competition as they travel to China in November with all expenses paid by Edutech and Lego Education.
For Parveen the competition is also an opportunity for her organization to reiterate its "social responsibility" in encouraging the sue of technology in other aspects of life.
"Technology is an enabler, and not a solution in itself," she says. "Hopefully with this competition schools will be more keen to introduce robotics in their curriculum."
By David Tusing
© Emirates Today 2006
