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Camilo José Cela University and SEK El Castillo International School have hosted and celebrated a new edition of the FIRST LEGO League tournament in Madrid, the international challenge of research, problem solving, science and robotics for young people.
With the aim of encouraging a vocation in science and technology in a fun and entertaining way, young people in different teams suggested ideas and proposals for science projects to build and program robots and presented their projects to a crowded auditorium.
In addition, the FIRST LEGO League Jr. tournament also took place, aimed at the youngest kids aged between 6 and 9 years old, also divided into teams. This programme is designed to capture their curiosity and direct it towards discovering the possibilities of improving the world around them.
On this occasion, the group of students from SEK-Ciudalcampo who participated in the Challenge category took home the first prize for Excellence in Engineering.
This tournament aims to foster scientific and technological vocation in the younger generation, as well as developing skills such as complex problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management and teamwork.
SEK Education Group promotes STEAM culture (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) as an essential part of its students’ learning, since these skills will be required in future professions. It also places special emphasis on reducing the gender gap in science for young women and girls.
Building robots in the classroom
As part of that culture, SEK Education Group places special emphasis on activities related to science and technology. Among the activities related to this area, the schools offer:
- Educational robotics with Lego and robot creation with Arduino, an international community that designs and manufactures hardware development boards to build digital devices and interactive devices that can detect and control objects in the real world.
- Programming with languages such as Python, Arduino, C# or LUA.
- Design and 3D printing.
- MineCraft, where students develop skills such as teamwork, programming skills, problem-solving, spatial orientation and creativity.
- Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, where they create their virtual worlds and program the objects to then see it with the VR glasses.
- Creation of videogames.
- Drone programming
Robotics and programming language allows students to design, build and program robots that can perform various tasks, helping them to develop engineering, logic and creativity skills. With the programming language they create applications, games and websites, thanks to which they develop computational thinking, expression and digital literacy skills.
“Learning these skills from an early age has many benefits, such as sparking students’ interest and curiosity in science and technology, which can motivate them to continue learning and exploring; developing their confidence and self-esteem, by making them feel capable of creating and controlling their own projects; and improving their academic performance, as it reinforces concepts from other subjects such as mathematics, physics and language”, says Gonzalo Pascual, TAC (Technologies for Learning and Knowledge) coordinator at SEK-El Castillo.
Protagonists of their own learning
The SEK Education Group schools have Maker Space, spaces dedicated to promoting student autonomy, self-learning – learning by doing methodology-, gamification or Design Thinking in which they can carry out activities in multiple areas (science, technology, robotics, arts…).
In it, the students are the protagonists of their own learning, taking the initiative to think, plan, build and, ultimately, give birth to their own projects. These facilities are equipped with innovative technology such as, for example, 3D printers, tablets and latest generation computers.
