Kids Robotics Program - OAKLearning Center

building and Programing robots

Hands-on Learning & Fun for STEM Education

Learning math and computer coding could be intimidating for kids when they don't like it yet or when they don't have necessary foundation. However kids always love to make things, to break things, to game with friends. Our RoboRobo robotic courses allow kids to quickly build robots using various censors and motors, program their robots using programming cards, and download their program to CPU using a specially designed card-reader. Without the hassle of learning tedious coding language, all the programming essential logics and concepts are learnt and practiced, all in the fun of hands-on making.

UARO COURSES

AGE 4-5

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RoboKids COURSES

AGE 6-8

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ROBOKIT COURSES

AGE 8-12

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RoboKids Courses

Age 6 - 8

In RoboKids courses, students will learn and practice to build, program, and test various robots using LEGO compatible blocks and proprietary programming cards without coding. Robots are controlled by a CPU and various sensors. By removing the tedious steps of coding, kids can jump in the fun of building, programming, and gaming their robots so that their passion and motivation of learning are inspired and protected.

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Design and Build

Students use LEGO compatible building blocks and materials to build various robots. Creativity and attention-to-details are key skills to do well in this process.

Program and Control

Using innovative Card and Card-Reader mechnism, students can program the CPU of the robot without using computers. This allows students to enjoy the fun of STEM.

Test and Play

Testing and trouble-shooting is a big part of robotics program. It improves students' problem solving skills and increase their confidence in dealing with unknown world.

Robotics v.s. Programing v.s. Coding

Parents often ask us whether we teach coding in our robotic courses. To answer this question, we must first differentiate three concepts: robotics, programming and coding. Robotics is a general term that refers to the study, research, and manufacturing of robots. Robots must be programmed to do work automatically. Programming is the process of creating computer programs that follow certain standards and perform certain tasks by robots. Coding, on the other hand, is a part of programming that deals strictly with converting or translating human language into binary commands that can be interpreted by computers. More than 1,000 different coding languages are available, but the underlying programming logic is all the same. That said, we teach and train our students how to do programming, but not coding in a specific coding language such as Python or Java.

In RoboKIT courses, we use a drag-and-drop GUI interface to allow students to program robots in a flow chart so that students can enjoy the process of building and programming their robots with the tedious coding process.

How Are RoboKids Courses Conducted?

Our RoboKIT courses are designed to inspire kids' curiosity, creativity and passion for computer programming. In each 10-week course period, students will be given a variety of robotic projects to complete pre-defined missions. For example, to build a maze-runner robot that can automatically navigate out of a maze. To complete such a mission, students will have a lot of freedom to design and build their robots, including choosing different types of input and output devices, programming their robots in a way that makes the most sense to them, and testing out how well their robots complete the mission. In such an experiential learning environment, it is natural that each student and/or team progress at a different pace. We appreciate that the fastest speed of completing a project does not always correlate with learning. Therefore, we always encourage students to take time to try different programming and continuously look for new looks to improve their robots. At the end of the course period, all students may or may not complete the same number of robotic projects, which is understood and expected. Students are encouraged to continue in the next 10-week course to design, build and program more sophisticated robots that perform at a higher level.

Are Previous Robotic Experiences Required?

Though it is observed that more and more students in recent years have joined our robotic courses with either some robotics building experience, programming experience, or a combination of both, our RoboKids program does not require any previous experience. During the first couple of classes in each course term, our instructor will go through the fundamentals of robotics, including programming logic, input devices such as IR sensors or contact sensors, and output devices such as motors and LED lights. Students will learn how these input and output devices work together under the control of software programs stored in the CPU.

How Are RoboKids Courses Scheduled?

The RoboKids Courses are organized according to Course Terms. Each course term is ten (10) weeks long. There will be one (1) class each week during the term, each 90 minutes long. After students complete a 10-week course term, most choose to renew in a new term and continue their journey of robotics learning at a high level. The RoboKids course fee is all-inclusive, including but not limited to the course fee, material fee, HST tax, and other fees.