Karlstads universitet lanserar i sommar ett nytt Robotkollo för barn – en satsning som snabbt blev fulltecknad. Under två veckor får deltagarna utforska teknikens möjligheter genom att bygga och programmera egna robotar i en kreativ och samarbetsinriktad miljö.
Karlstad University is launching a new Robot Camp for children this summer – an initiative that quickly became fully booked. Over two weeks, participants get to explore the possibilities of technology by building and programming their own robots in a creative and collaborative environment.
The Robot Camp combines technology, programming, collaboration, and problem-solving and is part of Teknikerjakten (The Technology Hunt). In small groups, the children build robots using LEGO and program them to complete different tasks. The format is inspired by the international technology and science competition FIRST LEGO League.
– It is exciting to see the development among the students. They are skilled in both the mechanical and technical aspects, and they become very motivated when they get to solve challenges using robots they have built themselves. The level of engagement is very high, says Gunvor Näs, regional coordinator for Skogen i skolan (Forest in School) and trained technology teacher.
The Robot Camp is a new initiative at Karlstad University and can serve as a continuation for children who have previously participated in the university’s Digital Camp. At the same time, Digital Camp and Experiment Camp are also being organized, where children can work with, for example, digital creation, 3D design, and chemistry experiments during the summer holidays.
Fredrik Bäckström is responsible for the Robot Camp and works as a teacher in mathematics, science, and technology at Marieberg School in Karlstad. He has extensive experience with FIRST LEGO League and has seen the impact this approach can have on students’ motivation.
– FIRST LEGO League is based on three key components: collaboration, programming, and problem-solving. When students get to work practically and together toward a clear goal, the level of engagement can become very strong, he says.
He describes a previous class that became so engaged in working with their robots that the students continued developing them during free periods, breaks, and after school. The class progressed from the Swedish finals to competitions in Mo i Rana and Oslo, where they became the best in Scandinavia and qualified for the world championship in Houston, USA.
Two of the students from that class, Felix Larsson and Veis Brkanovic, are now camp leaders at the Robot Camp at Karlstad University.
– It is especially rewarding to see how the interest continues. Now they get to help inspire the next generation of young robot builders, says Fredrik Bäckström.
FIRST LEGO League is one of the world’s largest technology and science competitions for children and young people aged 6 to 16. The competition combines LEGO, programming, and problem-solving and is held in many countries worldwide.
Facts: Teknikerjakten (The Technology Hunt)
Teknikerjakten is an initiative aimed at sparking interest in technology and science among children and young people. Through hands-on activities, challenges, and creative tasks, participants get to explore the possibilities of technology in an engaging and enjoyable way. The project is carried out with support from the Ljungberg Foundation, which helps ensure that more children and young people have the opportunity to encounter technology early and develop their interest further.
