A Queensland school robotics lesson draws an increasing number of girls to stem materials and encourage a new generation of engineers.
Traditionally, an area dominated by men, the number of girls who take robotics in schools develop quickly.
The Merimac State High School on the Gold Coast undoubtedly offers the best robotics program in Australia.
These are the current winners of the mayor of the mayor of the Gold Coast and the junior champions of the Australian national summit and robotics.
The school sends two teams to the World Summit of this year to Japan to defend its title.
The manufacturer of Maya Wood robots, 15, is part of a team that goes to the Tokyo summit.
“I think all of this is very exciting,” she said. “I never thought I would do that.”
“It’s amazing to see what they can do.
“I never thought I would like robotics, but I love it so much.”
The Merimac robotics course is almost 40% of girls and the number only grows. (ABC Gold Coast: Damien Larkins))
While the Robotics Merimac classrooms are still mainly filled with boys, girls quickly approach the subject.
Coach Daniel Ricardo said that the science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics coach (STEAM) said that girls represented 40% of the class.
“We have made a huge ground there,” he said.
“In the past 13 years, I have taught computers, girls have been the best students 10 times out of 13.”
He said that the lack of female vapor representation was not due to the fact that the girls were not good in this area, but due to anchored gender stereotypes and a lack of female models.
Teacher Daniel Ricardo says that more and more girls are embarking on primary school robotics. (ABC Gold Coast: Damien Larkins))
Merimac robotics students direct a mentoring program, which sees them promoting the pursuit in local primary schools.
Ricardo said he turned out to be popular with primary school students.
“We see more engaged girls than we see boys,” he said.
“We find with coding and robotics and computer thought, any child who loves a puzzle … This intrinsic motivation is what leads them.”
The future of robots
The Maya team works on a domestic robot, to help with tasks.
But she said that robots would do much more in the future.
Pepper is only one of the tools used to train the Faboros Robots of the Future. (ABC Gold Coast: Damien Larkins))
“They will help in the house, they will talk to us, drive cars … Teaching primary children, really anything,” she said.
Mr. Ricardo said it would really help score and report.
“I think sometimes children want us to be replaced fairly quickly,” he said, laughing.
“Many teachers will be happy on this subject, to regain their balance between professional and private life.”
Students from the Merimac State High School head to Tokyo to defend their title of the World Robot Summit in October.