CREATIVE KIDS TOP CANVAS [Report] First STEM Program Workshop

CANVAS

2018.10.02
[Report] First STEM Program Workshop

iRobot Japan hosted a workshop where children could experience robot engineering.

iRobot Japan employees served as instructors and support staff. CANVAS was responsible for developing the workshop program and conducting training sessions for the employees.

This time, Colin Angle, iRobot’s founder and current CEO, joined us all the way from the U.S.! He engaged the children in a call-and-response session to help them learn about robots and programming.
• What exactly is a robot?
• How can we make a robot move on its own, just like a living creature?
• If you were to build a robot in the future, what kind of robot would you want to make?

After deepening their understanding, the children got to try their hand at programming! After practicing with Scratch, they took on the challenge of programming a Roomba to move. Even when it didn’t move exactly as they’d imagined at first, they adjusted the duration and angle of movement and repeatedly refined their code until they successfully completed the mission.

During the presentations, some groups even gave live demonstrations.When we asked them about the challenging parts and the creative solutions they came up with, it was clear just how hard each student had worked.

At the end, Colin presented the children—who had become members of the robotics research team—with iRobot researcher ID cards.

Going forward, we’ll continue to offer hands-on workshops led by volunteer instructors—employees currently active in the field—to help cultivate the foundational skills needed by future engineers!


　

Profile


  • Digital Picture Book Author

    Professor, Keio University; Ph.D. (Policy and Media)
    Director, B Lab
    Chairperson, Learning of Tomorrow (General Incorporated Association)
    Chairperson, CANVAS

    After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, he served as a visiting researcher at the MIT Media Lab before founding the NPO CANVAS and the Learning of Tomorrow Association, a General Incorporated Association, and assuming the role of representative. He serves as an outside director for Matsuya Co., Ltd., Fuji Media Holdings, Inc., and Digital Garage, Inc.
    He has served on various government committees, including the Information and Communications Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as well as the NHK Central Broadcasting Program Council. He also serves as a director of the Digital Signage Consortium, among other roles. He holds a Ph.D. in Policy and Media.
    His publications include *Turning On Children’s Creativity!*, *What Are Smart Kids Doing on Their Smartphones?*, *The Forefront of Online Education in Japan: Considering Learning in the Post-COVID Era*,“What Is Programming Education? 45 Questions Parents Want to Know,” and “Declaration on Digital Education.” He has also provided supervision for numerous works, including “Ah, I See! Programming Education for Parents and Children Through Manga.”