Roadshow visits school in White River to promote technical skills
This programme introduces learners to technology and helps prepare them for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
As a way to promote technical skills in schools and prepare young minds for critically needed careers in technology, the Standard Bank STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) Roadshow recently visited Lwaleng Primary School.
The aim of the roadshow was to help Grade 5 and 6 learners embrace technology. There were 370 learners who benefited from the programme.
The schools that enrolled for the roadshows were provided with a Raspberry Pi, a single-board computer, and a micro-bit, which is a micro-controller. These are used globally to introduce students to programming and encourage them to work on a project using their newly acquired skills. As the workplace becomes increasingly technical, there is a greater demand for young workplace entrants who are tech savvy.
A technical mentor was assigned to the school to assist and support the school teacher and students on their coding journey.
ALSO READ: Community organisation continues its school shoe drive in Pienaar
Julian Felix, the head of sectors for Standard Bank Business Banking in Mpumalanga, said, “It is designed to encourage them to study STEAM subjects. The students are actively engaged through planned activities. They are also introduced to the changes brought by the 4IR, including robotics, machine learning and three-dimensional printing. These and other technologies are causing our world to evolve.”
According to Felix, STEAM boot camps are also hosted with the intention of strengthening students’ coding skills.
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga Department of Education rehabilitates Phulani Secondary
“The boot camps focuses on design thinking principles and encourages collaboration in teams. They help the students develop their elevator pitch for when they present their work. An annual showcase is hosted at the end of the year, at which all competing schools present their innovative projects. The winning school is awarded a tech prize that will keep the students curious and excited about the 4IR. The prize is given to a project that helps reduce costs and improve sustainability,” said Felix.
