Introduction
In terms of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which is responsible for the measurement of digital skills in terms of SDG 4.4, less than 20% of South Africans have standard digital skills.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE), in its 2022/23 Annual Performance Plan (APP) released on the 15th of March 2022, announced a phased introduction of coding and robotics in the classroom. According to the APP, the coding and robotics pilot for Grades 4-6 and for Grades 8 was planned to start in 2022, followed by a Grade 9 pilot in 2023. The full-scale implementation for Grades 4-6 and Grade 8 is planned to start in 2024, and Grade 9 in 2025.
Various provincial education departments, including the Northern Cape and Limpopo Departments of Education, intend to accelerate the rollout of coding and robotics beyond grades 4-6 and 8 provided they can source funding from corporates and foundations to support this. This is particularly important because most of the trained teachers can teach across all phases (Foundation, Intermediate and Senior phases). Once trained, these teachers will also be able to train other teachers thus accelerating the rollout of the coding and robotics curriculum.
The intervention
SIOC-CDT identified 10 primary schools in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, Tsantsabane and Thabazimbi as Schools of Excellence that will also pilot the coding and robotics curriculum. The selection of these schools sought to align the rollout of coding and robotics with government’s rollout plan.
Whilst ‘unplugged’ coding and robotics solutions that do not require Internet access are available, the teaching of coding and robotics requires that schools have suitable internet connectivity for learning and teaching on the subject.
To identify the ‘state of readiness’ at these schools, Sifiso EdTech conducted physical and virtual on-site surveys of the 10 Pilot Schools of Excellence. The survey included an assessment of the state of infrastructure (appropriate classrooms for coding and robotics) in terms of the availability of electrical power, the school enrolment numbers, and the level of training received by teachers on teaching coding and robotics at these schools.
Of the 10 schools, two schools have no Internet access and connectivity. The supply of LTE routers by Sifiso EdTech was therefore included for the schools that are not serviced by SIOC-CDT’s internet provider. Below is the list of all the 10 primary schools of excellence.
Sifiso EdTech’s teacher training initiative in robotics and its subsequent integration into the educational framework is both profound and transformative. Upon completion, educators will receive a certificate from UBTech, the international original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the robotics kits, as well as certification that can be used to earn points towards meeting the Continuing Professional Teacher Development requirements of the South African Council for Educators. The curriculum, ranging from foundational modules like “Introduction to robotics” and “Types of robots” to more advanced topics such as “Robotics pedagogy” and “Engineering design thinking,” ensures that educators receive a well-rounded understanding of the subject.
Topics covered in this training include:
- Introduction to robotics
- Everyday robots,
- Types of robots
- Overview of coding and robotics curriculum
- Basic robotics parts
- Fundamentals of robotics
- Sensors
- Educational robotics
- Robotics pedagogy
- Introduction to the hardware and software of robotics
- Robotics and STEAM
- Classroom management
- Engineering design thinking
Moreover, the emphasis on hands-on learning through practical robotics experiments, including projects like the “Smart desk lamp,” “Robotic arm” and “Traffic lights” offers educators tangible experiences. These aren’t mere theoretical exercises; they’re real-world applications that students can engage with, fostering a deeper connection to the subject.
Sifiso EdTech’s Robotics Experiments include:
- Smart Fan
- IR Boom Gate
- Simple vehicle
- Police Car
- Street sweeper
- Traffic Lights
- IR/ Ultrasonic electronic gate
- My AI home
- Robotic Arm
- AI enabled life
The training of teachers is scheduled for end of November and beginning of December 2024, in preparation to introduce the subject at these primary schools in 2025.
Expected outcomes
