Mainstreaming robotics in Jamaican high schools

Shernette Richards-Francis, teacher of English language at Spot Valley High School in Montego Bay, shares that she got involved in robotics following a workshop hosted by The University of the West Indies, Western Campus, and was fascinated by the idea of making robots. After a brief consultation, she started a robotics club at Spot Valley High. “I love the discipline and the natural support it offers for mathematics and science,” she continued. With just over 20 members, the Spot Valley High School Robotics Club has been functioning with few resources since its inception.

Like Richards-Francis, educators at all levels know the value of STEM (science, technology, and math) in education and the more than discreet role of robotics in promoting interest in the field. Through robotics, stem subjects become more hands on and creative and less like schoolwork.

Benefits of Robotics in Schools

Robotics clubs in schools means more than just another extra-curricular activity as they foster ingenuity and creativity. In an increasingly complex world, it is more important than ever that children be encouraged to solve problems and to meet the demands of a dynamic and evolving workforce. Building students’ skills, content knowledge, and fluency in STEM fields is essential. Robotics also:

- Promotes innovation and creativity

- Builds resilience

- Encourages experimentation

- Encourages teamwork

- Encourages knowledge application

- Encourages tech use

- Teaches problem-solving

- Encourages adaptation

The Ministry of Education (MOE) understands the value of prioritising science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to compete with the global economy. They boast that “in three areas, an overall amount of J$182 million which can be used in any of the four areas. Outside of that, they have a specific injection for science, which is J$50 million, and for ICT, another J$151.5 million.” With J$384.5 million allocated to the provision of STEM-related areas within the school system, robotics may begin to flourish in more schools across the island.

Cost of robotics clubs

With the US reporting that the majority of jobs by 2027 will be in STEM fields, it is increasingly obvious that students must be encouraged to appreciate these subjects from early. It is important that Jamaica is not be left behind and that robotics does not become an exclusive club for the very rich and for the very bright but is used to encourage every child to reach their full potential. Thus, access to tools and equipment needed to build robots is a must for more schools to become involved. The cost of a robotics kit is approximately J$200,000, and clubs, depending on their size, may need to purchase more than one kit.

The First Tech Robotics competition provides teams with the materials required to make their robots, and schools keep the material after competition. This has provided a starter for the 30 schools in the competition slated for the final weekend in February. Gavin Samuels is grateful for the partnerships with the Ministry of Education, and recently, from the NCB Foundation to provide all participating schools with a “starter kit”. The starter kit allows every school to build an entry-level robot and provide the technical support through workshops and scrimmage for training ahead of the major competition.

Minister Fayval Williams visited the Convent of Mercy Academy ‘Alpha’ in Kingston on February 18, where 12 young women showed off the robots they had made for the competition. In her address to the team, Williams commended the ladies for their ingenuity and assured them of a secure future in technology. “Technology is the future,” she said, “and as the minister with responsibility for the sector, I am encouraged by your enthusiasm and dedication. I am happy that girls are involved as it is a field that women tend to ‘shy away’ from. I am committed to playing my part to ensure that the resources and systems are in place that you can accomplish your goals, so send me your proposals.”

Supervising teacher of the Alpha Academy Girls Robotics Club Fonia Davisco is a teacher of computer science and information technology and was excited about the possibilities for exposure the First Tech competition offers. She shared that the girls worked tirelessly on their robots on their own as she was also learning about the process.

She said that they started without any resources and was appreciative of the kit the First Tech organisers provided for the team. “I know we could do better if we had the resources. Right now, the team practises in any room that is available, and so space is an issue. We also do not have the correct mats for the robots to move on, and there are additional items that we need that were not provided in the kit.” “The students pool together their own money, raise funds to purchase additional items, and we received support from interested past students.” Like Davisco, Richards-Francis from Spot Valley believes that for robotics to grow in Jamaica, resources are key as the items are expensive and are not available locally.

Jamaicans are natural creatives and are known for their ingenuity to create with limited resources. For decades, children have been making toy trucks from box drink boxes and bottle covers. The rapid growth in entrances for this year’s competition from 14 schools to 31, including six girls’ schools and 13 schools outside of Kingston, is evidence of the possibilities for robotics in Jamaica.

So how do other schools start their own Robotics Clubs?

The starter kit

The fundamentals of starting any club is to identify your team leaders and supervising teacher at school. Due to its practical, hands-on nature, a robotics club will need some basic tools to start. Based on our research and conversations with some of the teams, a starter kit may include but not be limited to

Mechanical tools (these tools help to build the body of the robot)

1. Small vice

2. Hammer

3. Screwdrivers and wrenches (two spanners of equal size are required for locknutting)

4. Saw: Metal and wood saws.

5. Square, measuring tape, scriber and other marking-out tools.

6. Vernier calipers

7. Files (especially when working with metal as rough metal edges are sharp)

8. Centre punch (essential for accurate drilling of holes in metal to prevent the drill skating over the surface)

9. Drill press or hand drills

10. Hobby tool

11. Sharp utility knives

12. Hot glue guns (handy for quickly mounting parts. Not too strong bound, but useful for many applications)

13. Arc welder (only useful when working with thick steel on large projects (use a gas welding torch for thin metal; arc welders tend to burn holes right through the workpiece)

14. Paint stripper/electric heat gun (useful for bending plastics, also applying heat-shrink tubing to electric cables at low power)

15. Safety goggles

Electronic tools (list not exhaustive)

- Soldering iron

- Breadboard – handy for building temporary circuits and testing new circuits

- Multimeter: measures voltage, current, and resistance.

- Oscilloscope (makes an electric signal visible)

- Variable power supplies: power supplies with variable output. Either AC or DC current.

- Logic probe: pen-like devices that detect logic levels

- Frequency meters – measures the frequency of a signal.

- LEDs: An underrated test device for digital circuits.

With the right tools, the right attitude, and support from government initiatives, schools, and parents, an increase in robotic clubs in schools is possible. Support from alumni groups and funding agencies that are pro-stem education to engage more schools across the island wishing to start their own robotics club. Jamaican schools, with a natural competitive spirit, will be motivated to engage in robotics through competitions like First Tech.

Jerome Wright is a teacher of biology at Ardenne High School who has been the supervising teacher of the Robotics Engineering and Science Club since its inception three years ago. The 10-member club is thriving with support from parents and the school community.

Wright admits that “robotics is an expensive venture and takes a lot to keep it going from registration fees and parts. The technical support and equipment supplies are integral to our success, and so I have actively engaged the alumni to support the initiative.”