Robotics is an aspect of technology that deals with the construction, application, and operation of robots. Most people think of robots as gigantic and destructive machines which are too impossible, complicated and expensive to make. But in actuality, you can see applications of robots in everyday life – from automatic cleaners to children’s toys.
Nowadays, educators use robotics to engage students in learning important concepts like science and math. Although robots used in classrooms don’t duel with each other or shoot out laser beams, using them to explain scientific and mathematical concepts is an effective way of keeping students attentive and engaged.
A person programs a mechanical device called a “robot” to obey commands. By following precise instructions set by the programmer, the robot can speak and perform activities in response to commands and its environment.
If you’re a student planning to take on robotics courses, studying it is an excellent stepping stone to an amazing career. With technology becoming even more vital for the future, you should expand your horizon and grab the opportunity. Don’t let the myths and stereotypes hold you back.
Myths About Robotics
1. Only an expert can build a robot.
You don’t need to be a genius or have a degree to begin building a robot. With the right tools and resources, even a kid can build a basic robot.
Nobody is born knowing how to code and program a robot, but hard work, creativity, resourcefulness and perseverance are greater prerequisites for robotics than being a genius. But, of course, in order to advance or improve in the field of robotics, you need to know the basics first by enrolling in robotics classes.
2. You’re too young to learn robotics.
Even at a young age, you don’t need to be an expert so that you can program robots. The positive impact of starting early is that you learn things beyond the coding language.
There are many age-appropriate robotic tools for students which carry less risks of the learner getting overwhelmed. If you’re growing up surrounded by technology, then knowing what makes up the world can help you learn how to navigate it.
3. Robotics is only for those who want to become programmers in the future.
According to Steve Jobs, everybody should learn how to program because it teaches people how to think. While learning robotics will place you in a good career position for the future, it shouldn’t be the only reason why you should!
In today’s digital age, the demand for creative thinkers is increasing. Robotics has touched various career paths beyond simply being a programmer. So regardless of what will happen in the future, robotics is something you should consider. The empowerment and confidence you get from learning new things will surely bring you great benefits.
4. Robotics isn’t fun.
Those glimmery eyes and “aha” moments you see every time someone becomes successful with programming a robot’s are proof that robotics is fun. All it takes is one basic coding activity to spark your interest.
Robotics doesn’t only appeal to students who are interested in creative design beyond computers. In robotics, you can do anything from designing creative games to programming to sketching how your robot will look like while maintaining maximum functionality.
5. Robotics is expensive.
If you’re worried about robotics being expensive, think again. Learning how to code a robot doesn’t require expensive technology. In fact, you can start coding with simple activities which don’t involve technology.
Activities such as solving a maze puzzle, creating a name bracelet using beads, and color coding exercises all do not involve any type of electronic gadget yet effectively teach the fundamentals of coding to kids.
6. Robotics is dangerous.
It’s easy to see why others are hostile about robotics. With Hollywood movies portraying robots as antagonists, people’s minds are fed with negativity regarding machines.
Consider the aspect of robotics where they can be an instrument to save lives. Nowadays, complicated surgery and search-and-rescue missions use robotics technology. Researchers are also looking into nanorobots to possibly fight off diseases within the human body.
By knowing these myths about robotics, you can begin to erase your doubts about this amazing technology. Robotics can give you as much knowledge as possible on what career path to take in the future. It isn’t just an extra-curricular subject, it’s essential learning on where humanity is headed towards.
Truths About Robotics
1. Robotics is an effective way to introduce programming.
For someone who has no background in programming, it can be too abstract. Through robotics, you’ll learn how to control a physical robot and see firsthand what can go wrong. Eventually, you’ll learn to give more specific instructions and understand what robots can and cannot do.
Having hands-on experience in robotics also gives you the opportunity to figure out if it’s something you’ll be interested in for your future career.
2. Robotics provides skills useful for future employment.
With technology rapidly advancing, there’s no doubt that there’ll be a huge need for people who have programming skills. Through robotics, you can acquire the aptitude to land a job in the future.
Robotics is a vital part of the future.
Young children should learn about science to know how the world works. A similar argument applies to how robotics is essential to modern life. Students who have the opportunity to learn about robotics will have the knowledge to make more intelligent choices in the future.
Robotics is changing the job market.
Robots are already changing the workforce visibly. Nowadays, automation is present even in supermarkets and gasoline stations, not just in manufacturing facilities. You can expect that in the time to come, more and more jobs will involve humans working together with robots.
3. Robotics can help solve human problems.
Robotics can help solve big problems plaguing the world so people can improve their way of life. In medicine, the opportunity for robots is quite huge due to their utilization in complex surgeries. Learning about robotics and its applications allows you to make breakthroughs to benefit human society.
4. Robotics provides hands-on learning.
Robotics gives learners practical hands-on experience. You can work with a team to collaborate and use critical skills to program a robot correctly. It’s easier to gain knowledge when there’s a physical robot to manipulate and observe.
It improves your motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Robotics kits allow you to physically manipulate motors, sensor, gears and many aspects of a machines physical components.
Doing so help you practice synchronizing the use of your fingers and hands with your eyes to hold pieces, dismantle objects and manipulate the robot. When constructing a robot, you also get to master complex motor skills.
It develops computational thinking.
Computational thinking is about recognizing aspects of calculation by thinking abstractly and logically. Robotics helps develop this way of thinking by teaching you how to “think like a machine” to solve problems. This is essential for careers in engineering or anything that involves numbers.
By knowing the myths and truths about robotics, you can remove any uncertainties you have about this technology. Grab the opportunity to learn about robotics today to build a great career path in the future. After all, the sky’s the limit to your imagination, and programming in robotics!
Maloy Burman is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Premier Genie FZ LLC. He is responsible for driving Premier Genie into a leadership position in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education space in Asia, Middle East and Africa and building a solid brand value. Premier Genie is currently running 5 centers in Dubai and 5 centers in India with a goal to multiply that over the next 5 years.
Guest post by Yvonne Herrmann-Teubel, Chief German Instructor at German Language School
After having studied the German language for many years, Mark Twain stated the following:
“A dog is “der Hund”; a woman is “die Frau”; a horse is “das Pferd”; now you put that dog in the genitive case, and is he the same dog he was before? No, sir; he is “des Hundes”; put him in the dative case and what is he? Why he is “dem Hund.” Now you snatch him into the accusative case and how is it with him? Why he is “den Hunden.” But suppose he happens to be twins and you have to pluralize him- what then? Why they’ll swat that twin dog around through the 4 cases until he’ll think he’s an entire international dog-show all in his own person. I don’t like dogs, but I wouldn’t treat a dog like that- I wouldn’t even treat a borrowed dog that way. Well, it’s just the same with a cat. They start her in at the nominative singular in good health and fair to look upon, and they sweat her through all the 4 cases and the 16 the’s and when she limps out through the accusative plural you wouldn’t recognize her for the same being. Yes, sir, once the German language gets hold of a cat, it’s goodbye cat. That’s about the amount of it. “
In other words, the question „Why should I learn German? “ is quite legitimate. German is not an easy language to learn and after having opened the first page of a German grammar book your first reaction might be to close it again immediately and to hide it somewhere so you do not have to open it again. Furthermore, German is just one of the official languages in Switzerland and if you already speak Italian or/and French you may ask yourself the same question again: „Why should I learn German? “.
Looking at the list of the most spoken languages you can see that there are 378.2 million speakers of English (as the first language) worldwide in 2017 in contrast to only 130.0 million German speakers (as mother or second language). Apart from that, Switzerland is full of people knowing and speaking English quite well or even perfectly.
1) Meeting the local authorities
However, once you have to go to the immigration office (Migrationsamt), want to sign a contract for a house or buy a car, it can become quite an obstacle of not knowing how to speak German. Although it is only one of the official languages in Switzerland, it is spoken by approx. 63% of the Swiss.
2) Improve your job chances
If you are looking for a job in Switzerland and you already know German your chances of getting a job are much higher.
3) Applying for the C-permit
The same goes for the application of permanent residency (C-permit). It helps if you can show that you are at least at A2-level, especially when you are applying as a third-country national. But not only there is it helpful to know some German. Coming from a foreign country you already experienced how useful it is to know the language of the country because it is the key to the new culture that you are going to live in for some time.
4) Helping yourself and your children adjust to the country
Language is also your entrance ticket for integration into the Swiss culture. In addition to this, it is your chance to build up your own Swiss professional and personal network, to challenge your brain, to learn something new and to broaden your horizons. And, last but not least, if your children are going to a local school all the communications with the school will mostly be in German.
5) Learning German can be fun
There are, apart from many hidden grammar books, a lot of other ways to learn German. A lot of Apps will help you learn German in a way that might be new to you on the one hand but very effective on the other hand. There are uncountable videos, podcasts and other programmes that can be used for free on the Internet. And if this is not something of your taste then there is also a wide offer of language schools willing to help you with your German.
So, the question that we should ask ourselves is not „Why should I learn German? “ but rather „Why should I not learn German? “.
Yvonne Herrmann-Teubel believes that everyone saying German is too hard to learn has just not found the right strategy yet. After having worked as a teacher of German as a foreign language in Leipzig, Lisbon, and São Paulo, she moved to Zurich where she is teaching Expats from all over the world in German and preparing students for their IB German and/or other language exams. She is also working as an author. Her business, the German Language School, is open to anyone who wants to learn more about a German dog and its four cases.
