Although LEGO is synonymous with fun, it’s been successfully used as a teaching resource for years. Now, LEGO robots are an integral part of modern Robotics lessons at Primary School Savremena.

Robotics lessons set the foundation for long-term creative thinking, since the students learn how to assess a problem from different perspectives and find different solutions. The skills they gain allow them to overcome future obstacles and challenges, and prepare for a career in robotics, programming and engineering.

A TOP TEACHER INTRODUCES US TO THE WORLD OF SCIENCE

Tech and Robotics teacher Maja Erić is a Master LEGO Educator. This means that senior students have the opportunity to secure a successful future by learning from the best. While entering the world of science and engineering, Savremena’s students learn how to use levers, gears, wheels and axes, and how important balance is in construction.

The students showcased their efforts and talent at the international level. Gamechangers, a team comprising five students, took part in the prestigious FIRST LEGO League. They competed against nine other teams and managed to win medals in two categories!

The competition takes place in more than 100 countries including Serbia, with more than 35,000 teams applying globally. This clearly shows the quality level of teaching at Savremena. Moreover, it shows that children find education using LEGO highly interesting, as it allows them to implement their skills in the best possible way.

The idea, both in school and in this competition, is for the children to use programming to learn how to apply logical-thinking skills to solve problems. And the children’s favourite part is designing and assembling robots.

Our first question to Maja Erić was about the latest events. The results we’ve just received from FIRST LEGO League confirm that talent and hard work always yield results. How much does this mean to the Gamechangers and how much can competitions like these help students develop their creativity?

The students found the event highly interesting. They went through a whole range of emotions; they were euphoric, they cried, laughed and were full of adrenaline. The seven-hour competition felt like 15 minutes. The contest was split into 4 areas with 3 rounds. Between each round we had 15-minute rehearsals, so it was really intense. I believe that the day after the competition was also very important for the students, as they concluded that they had learnt so much in Robotics lessons, given that they competed against children who are older and have years of FLL experience. They were proud of their work and their success gave them even more drive. Right away they began asking questions about the next FLL season and what they could do that would have a unique Gamechangers signature. We can say that the benefit of LEGO Education is the fact that the students are free to decide how they will use their knowledge and skills.

Moreover, they realise that by learning and exploring they can advance endlessly, because new ideas are born every day and this is never-ending motivation for the students on their intellectual and academic journey.

What does your Master Lego Educator title entail? In other words, what set of skills do you teach students and how?

A Master Lego Educator is an exceptional brick coordinator and master of STEM; there are no robots they cannot code. An MLE is a leader in the educational LEGO community. They show passion, knowledge and creativity while using educational LEGO solutions in the classroom. They are constantly learning by following the latest advancements in the field. We’re a small, but well-chosen group. The skills students gain with LEGO include Python programming, patience, tenacity, dexterity, coordination, confidence, the ability to accept failure, and an endless will to seek new solutions.

Savremena’s primary students have the privilege to gain key skills in tech and robotics in your unusual and exciting lessons. How important is it to have creative and modern teaching methods, given that we know that in the majority of schools in Serbia children still learn in the traditional manner, which gives Savremena’s students a significant advantage?

In my lessons, I use highly creative methods, such as constructing buildings in Minecraft, creating “smart” cartoons in Scratch, but I also insist on practical methods where students build electric motors. In addition, I take them to construction sites to see all the elements of construction engineering. We learn traffic rules using a virtual driving course we programmed and animated ourselves, connecting programming and tech in a highly approachable and intriguing fashion. At Savremena, students have a great advantage because they have an excellent learning environment and technology. In addition, they learn in an individual and creative manner and have the freedom to explore their interests so they could use those practical skills later on in their education.

Everybody knows about LEGO, even older generations. But it’s fascinating to see how much it has developed; it’s even in school curricula now. What’s the secret behind LEGO?

LEGO connects students and teachers from all around the world, believes that play and exploration produce successful young people, and provides a unique learning system that has no limits and offers endless solutions while keeping up with the latest technological developments.

ROBOTIC CHALLENGES IN LEGO CLUB

LEGO club is highly practical and useful as it allows older Savremena students to enter the world of science and engineering, and learn how to use levers, gears, wheels and axes, and how important balance is in construction.

The students particularly love the Technic collection, which they use to develop skills by building, say, fast cars which they engage in a dragster race. In addition, they can build small constructions, such as garages, houses, cranes, diggers, bridges, even cherry pickers.

Taking into account that the students are surrounded by the digital world and new technology, all the skills they gain at the school will be fully applicable in the future.

Well done, little engineers!

Bravo, mali inženjeri!