The school has been making progress in a curricular renewal to bring students ever closer to cutting-edge technologies, offering them elective subjects that promote creativity, innovation, computational thinking and the ability to solve problems.
In this way, subjects with content on robotics, artificial intelligence, video game design, art and digital design, among others, are being developed.
To achieve this, the school has made a significant investment in innovative and technological devices, so that students have access to hardware and software elements that allow them to carry out deeper learning activities, developing professional competencies and life skills, while enjoying the use of digital devices in an environment that prepares them for the future challenges of the career they choose later.
In this sense, equipment for educational robotics and digital experimentation has been acquired, such as iPads and tablets, microbits[1], blue-bots[2] and Makey Makeys[3], aimed at primary school children; as well as 3D printers, cutting plotters, sublimation machines and laser cutters, for Middle and High School students to use in the creative workshop.
Events for innovation
This has allowed for an increase in student participation in events where specific challenges in robotics, science, mathematics and design have been integrated, such as:
BeeBot Challenge: BeeBot Challenge: a robotics competition held at La Colina School, where participating primary school students obtained first place in category C (9 to 13 years old) and third place in category B (7 and 8 years old).
Robotics Fair: Robotics Fair: a pioneering project at the school that emerged to create significant and innovative experiences, which integrate traditional subjects such as mathematics, Spanish or science with ICT. At the fair, students exhibit the results of their projects to peers, parents, and teachers, demonstrating a high level of knowledge in related areas and applying it effectively in the context of robotics.
Arduino Day:Arduino Day: a global event that celebrates creation and innovation through the Arduino platform, one of the most popular and accessible tools for creating electronics projects. This event had elementary school students as special guests to show their projects made with BeeBot, Ebot, Makey makey, and EV3, while MS and HS students tested their robot designs in Robot-Sumo competitions. The main event addressed the Internet of Things theme, through the workshop “Automation and home automation with Arduino,” where participants attended a demonstration about the processes to control domestic devices from a cell phone, tablet, or computer.
“Sumo with LEGOs” Tournament: competition held at the Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, which consisted of building robots capable of competing completely autonomously. Middle School robotics students managed to advance to the round of 16, among more than 32 teams from different schools. An enriching experience, where students strengthened values and skills that the Bolívar community promotes curiosity, respect, persistence, research, teamwork, personal excellence, autonomy and commitment.
Applications in other fields of interest
Students have also been able to experience the application of digital technologies in other fields of knowledge such as graphic design, communication and literature.
An example of this has been the project “Suspense Literature and Film Creation with EdTech and AI: Learning with Purpose”, where students recreated narrative texts using educational technology and Artificial Intelligence, creating scripts and audiovisual pieces with tools such as CANVA, Microsoft BING, FOTOR, Cap Cut, Clip Champ and iMovie, among others. This allowed students to merge creativity, literature and technology, promoting multidimensional and meaningful learning.
In addition, in the digital art and design class, students had the opportunity to use programs to formulate their ideas and then express them in different formats: print, 3D, video, stamping, etc., always seeking to motivate students with proposals that they are passionate about and, above all, that can help them strengthen their skills, both for daily life and for their professional future.
The challenge of developing digital skills
The challenge of developing digital skills goes beyond the classroom, involving all the actors in the educational environment. The development of new technologies, increasingly accessible to children from an early age, entails risks that must be taken into account. Access to the Internet from mobile devices opens a window to all types of content, so it is necessary to accompany children to prevent them from accessing inappropriate content. Bullying extends to the home environment due to access to social networks, so it is advisable to talk to students about the responsible and ethical use of technology.
In this sense, ICT classes emphasize not only the technical aspects, but also the concept of digital citizenship, which involves respect for policies for the proper use of computers, following guidelines for coexistence and appropriate behavior in virtual environments, as well as maintaining critical thinking and a position of one’s own regarding issues that may be sensitive or generate controversy.
The school is aware of these challenges and will therefore continue to create spaces that promote innovation and creativity, to ensure that learning about technology is connected to solving everyday problems. As Dorance Moreno (ICT Leader of the School) explains, “it is not just about investing in equipment but teaching how to think differently, how to influence and encourage logical and computational thinking in children and young people.”
*Special thanks to Dorance Moreno, ICT Leader, to teachers Luisa Hinestrosa, Sandra Motoa, Claudia Patricia Montoya, Patricia Muñoz, Marleng Lopera, Alaín Rivera, Yovani Romo and Stefanía Ruíz, webmaster and social media manager of the School, for the information provided for the preparation of this article.
[1] Small programmable computer designed for education https://youtu.be/Wuza5WXiMkc
[2] Programmable educational robot https://youtu.be/T6SyP7Imygs
[3] Invention kit https://youtu.be/rfQqh7iCcOU