The Department of Education Services (DES) has distributed 220 Programmable Robots (Pro Bots) to Year 5 and Year 6 students across government primary schools in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac as part of an expanded STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiative focused on upper Key Stage 2 students. “The Department of Education Services continues to identify innovative strategies to promote problem solving and critical thinking. These tools are just one additional resource in an ever expanding toolkit that will engage our students in the teaching and learning process,” stated Mark Ray, DES Director.
Pro Bots are programmable floor robots designed specifically for primary school learners. They feature a programmable interface that allows children to input sequences of instructions, including directional commands and setting distances and angles to navigate routes and complete challenges. In the classroom, Pro Bots are being used across a variety of activities, including Maths and Geography, collaborative group projects, and identifying and correcting errors in their programming sequences.
This helps students to develop skills such as coding and programming, critical thinking, teamwork, creativity and resilience.
Through hands-on experiences in STEM, students are introduced to a wide range of career pathways, including data science, software development, engineering and statistics. “When students use programmable robots like Bee Bots and Pro-Bots, you can see the thinking happen in real time. This programme is not just about robots; it's about giving students the confidence to tackle a problem, try something, and not be afraid when it doesn't work the first time.
Through hands-on programming challenges, students are given opportunities to think critically, question their assumptions, and work collaboratively through solutions methodically,” said Stephen Ta’Bois, STEM Specialist. This initiative aligns with the Government's broader outcomes and the Ministry of Education and Training’s strategic priorities by enhancing teaching and learning across government primary schools. To learn more about the DES and its initiatives, visit schools.edu.ky.