SABIS® Network schools provide students with a high-quality education that includes not only a solid academic foundation but also the skills that are needed to achieve success in a changing world. The SABIS Student Life Organization® (SLO®) makes an important contribution to the education provided in the network by strengthening students’ knowledge and giving them a real-life context in which to develop the skills they will need in the future. The SLO® Robotics Club is an example of an SLO® activity that develops the knowledge and skills that are high in demand in today’s rapidly changing world.
Students participating in SLO® robotics clubs throughout the SABIS® Network explore and develop the fundamentals of basic mechanics and use this knowledge to build machines. Students also learn to think outside of the box and be innovative; they also learn and practice programming skills. Robotics clubs help improve students´ organizational, time management, and teamwork skills through real hands-on experiences. It is a place where students who are interested in science and technology can meet, socialize, and make new friends. With all these benefits, it’s no wonder that robotics clubs are popular across the SABIS® Network.
At the International School of Choueifat − Doha (ISC-Doha), the robotics club was founded in 2014. The club, which is run by the SLO® prefects, is open to students in grades 9 and above and competes in annual robotics competitions in Qatar. In 2015, ICS-Doha robotics team won 2nd place at the Carnegie Mellon University-Qatar Botball Competition.
At the International School on the Rhine (ISR), a SABIS® licensed school in Germany, the robotics club was founded in March 2016 for students in grades 7-9. The club successfully participated in a local robotics competition held on April 1, 2017, and practiced teamwork and working under pressure. “In the robotics club, we as leaders learned to make proper use of our strengths and overcome our weaknesses by working as a team. We enjoyed challenging ourselves by programming our robots to solve real world tasks, like completing a puzzle, collecting objects, and racing against each other. We really enjoyed teaching the younger students how to program the robots and also learned a lot ourselves,” said Pia Herkenrath and Justus Ludwig, Grade 11 students at ISR.
In the U.S., The International School of Minnesota (ISM), a private SABIS® school, and two SABIS® public charter schools have active robotics clubs. At ISM, the robotics club, which started in 2008, is open for students in grades 8-12. The club participates in up to four competitions each year and has twice won an invitation to compete in the “World Championships.” As for SABIS® public charter schools, the International Academy of Flint’s (IAF) robotics club was founded in 2013 for students in grades 9-12. Club members participated in a number of international competitions such as the First Robotics Competition, Autonomics Vehicle Competition, and RC Car Competition. At the SABIS® International Charter School (SICS), the robotics club, which was initiated by a small group of students, was launched in 2009 and is now open for students in grades 6-12. The students are involved in designing, building, and programming robots as well as participating in international competitions.
At the International School Frankfurt Rhein-Main (ISF), the robotics club was set up by an ISF 8th grader who wanted to bring robotics to the school in February 2016. Today, using the innovative VEX IQ, students in the club explore and develop the fundamentals of basic mechanics, which they learn in the ISF Middle School science program. They then program the machines with various integrated electrical sensors to create robots.
At the International School of Choueifat − Manama in Bahrain, the robotics club was launched during the 2016-2017 academic year for students in grades 8-12. Members of the club are actively engaged in building robots and machines and are passionate about bringing inanimate objects to life.
At Ashwicke Hall School in the U.K., the robotics club was created in Term 2 of the 2016-2017 academic year and included Study Abroad students in grades 7, 8, & 9. The purpose of this club is to give students an appreciation of how robotics and engineering contribute to everyday applications and for students to gain an insight into a range of related careers associated with robotics.
Robotics clubs becoming increasingly popular in SABIS® schools around the world.
SABIS® schools around the world deliver a high-quality education in the classroom and through a multitude of interesting SLO® clubs and activities. By being involved in SLO® and having fun, students acquire and refine the skills, attitudes, and attributes that will give them an edge in the future.