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| Dr. Trebi-Ollennu introducing the students to the surprise rule |
This week, I volunteered again – as an on-site support -- at the
Robotics Inspired Science Education (RiSE) event in Kumasi. Two days of inspiration and learning. The RiSE is an initiative of the
Ghana Robotics Academy Foundation – the brain child of lead NASA JPL scientist,
Dr. Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu. The support of the US Embassy in Ghana -- and other donors -- is what has sustained this event, since its inception.
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| The ladies from St. Louis SHS watch their robot's progress, anxiously |
This year’s events held across Ghana is the third. The event is a platform that introduces Junior and Senior High School students to the basics of programming using the
Lego MINDSTORMS NXT robotic kit. It’s also an avenue that enhances the teaching of Science, Technlogy, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
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| The Grain-sorter robot from Prempeh College |
It’s really encouraging to see how these young ones build and programme robots to do their bidding. The highlight for me was the visit by kids from the Institute of Science and Technology in Agogo. Their visit was just to observe the event, but they ended up building an obstruction-detecting robot!
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| The young chaps from the IST in Agogo |
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| Konongo-Odumase SHS programming their robot |
A lot more support is needed to make this event a
‘Christmas’ in our educational system.
