5 Reasons Why Kids Should Learn Robotics

01 JUNE 2022

What is Robotics? To put it simply, it involves computer science and engineering to design machines that can help and assist humans. Robotics is all around us – from robot vacuum cleaners to drones and autonomous delivery robots, they are changing the world by helping humans do things better (with greater efficiency) and doing things that were not possible before. Robots are taking over the world. Here are 5 reasons why you should get your kids started on learning Robotics:

We are experiencing a shift from computer literacy to computing literacy. It is important to learn Robotics and Coding as it helps children to develop an appreciation of how things work. Programming is an abstract concept that can be difficult for children to understand, and this is where learning Robotics can help! With the hands-on nature of Robotics programmes, students have a ton of fun while picking up key programming concepts.

With Nullspace’s popular Robotics Certificate Programme (Ages 9+), students learn Robotics using the latest LEGO® Education SPIKE Prime^TM kit. Through the structured programme, students are taught in a demonstrative manner where they will learn to build and program LEGO® Robots to solve fun and engaging missions, introducing them to key programming concepts and robot design skills.

Besides picking up programming skills, robotics trains the way you think. It helps your child develop their Computational Thinking, Logical Reasoning and Problem-Solving Skills. Computational thinking involves taking a complex problem and breaking it down into a series of small, more manageable problems. With a robot at hand, students can visualise how their codes affect the movements of the robot.

With sequential programming, students will have to use logic to instruct their robots to complete certain missions in a stepwise manner. A “simple” problem such as climbing a flight of stairs involves many different components that have to fit together into a cohesive solution. Change one aspect of the robot and you will have to consider the implications on the entire solution.

Doing robotics does not mean that you will become an engineer, but doing robotics means that you ought to be a very good problem solver. Learning robotics provides a safe space for children to be comfortable with making mistakes and in the process become confident problem solvers.

In robotics, there is no one right way to solve a task. Finding the best solution requires experimenting with different robot designs and taking on different programming approaches. As the saying goes “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Robotics is an excellent outlet for creativity and innovation as it requires students to brainstorm, design, problem-solve, test their ideas through trial and error. It challenges you to think out of the box!

With a hands-on approach to learning, Nullspace empowers learners to have moments of self-discovery through a growth mindset and a can-do attitude. Rather than providing step-by-step instructions for kids to follow every session, they prefer to let our students struggle on a given problem, work on the solution themselves, before finally providing suggestions for improvements. Students of Nullspace learn through doing, through experimentation.

It is important to expose your children to a variety of extracurricular activities at an early age. Learning robotics is an excellent way for kids to explore and gain early exposure in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) – topics which are taught in the school curriculum later on. While not every kid will naturally have a passion for Robotics and Coding, you wouldn’t know unless you’ve tried it out! It is important to help your child discover their strengths and weaknesses, explore their likes and dislikes. So that when it comes time to select their post-secondary education and/or career path, their broadened horizon will allow them to make a more informed decision.

For most Singaporean parents, PSLE and Secondary school selection is easily the most significant milestone in their child’s education journey. With schools opening up more applicant spaces for different DSA talent areas and the overhaul in the PSLE grading system in 2021, we see an increase in the number of parents who are interested to consider preparing their children for DSA application. If your child has a passion for Robotics and/or Coding, Nullspace’s 2022 Guide to Robotics and Coding DSA Applications might be of interest to you.

When kids pick up complex skills such as robotics and coding, they’ll feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. This helps them gain self-confidence and realise the potential in them to achieve greater things. With the hands-on experimental nature of robotics classes, students will need to constantly take apart something they’ve created and make changes for it to work better. Through countless iterations of design and testing, robotics teaches patience, perseverance, and determination – which are valuable soft-skills that can be applied to any problem-solving situation.

By taking part in Robotics Competitions, students work in teams of 2 to 5. Through the process, they learn how to work as a team through collaboration. Apart from teamwork, kids will also develop important life-skills such as time management, resource management, emotional control, and leadership.

With a vast team of highly experienced and qualified trainers, Nullspace’s forte lies in providing competitive robotics training. These training classes are helmed by our competition tested robotics instructors who have a strong track record in competitions since 2008. Students who complete the Robotics Certificate Programme (Ages 9+) will be given the opportunity to join their competition training class representing Team Nullspace.