Children in Ostia discover robotics with Botley: an experience combining coding and creativity
Last Friday, February 28th, as part of the Third Mission activities of the Department of Industrial, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering (Diiem) of Roma Tre University, a primary school class from the A. Fanelli - F. Marini comprehensive institute in Ostia had an immersive experience in the world of educational robotics and programming.
The training session, organized by Anna Pia Ambrosio and Sabrina Sicilia, involved the young students in a stimulating educational program based on practical coding and problem solving activities.
Botley: the little robot that teaches coding without a screen
The star of the day was Botley, an educational robot designed to introduce children to the concepts of programming in an intuitive and fun way. Thanks to a special remote control, the students were able to learn to program movements and actions without the need for screens, thus developing logical and computational thinking through play.
After a brief theoretical introduction on the robot's functions, the children, divided into small groups, tried their hand at programming challenges, exploring Botley's potential through practical exercises. The day ended with a final competition, in which each team put their skills to the test to program the most precise and effective route.
A bridge between school and science: the importance of educational robotics
The enthusiasm and active participation of the children made the initiative a success, confirming the value of educational robotics in promoting STEM subjects from primary school onwards. Through play and experimentation, the students not only developed problem solving and collaboration skills, but also had a first approach to the world of technology and innovation. Experiences like this demonstrate how digital education and robotics can become key tools to introduce children to the professions of the future, stimulating creativity, critical thinking and transversal skills. The Department's initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen the dialogue between the academic world and schools, offering young people the opportunity to discover and become passionate about new technologies from an early age.
