1. Where does Lego Robotics fit into
Education
Presented by
Dawn Crawford
19 May 2012

2. GDE Vision and Mission
Our vision: ensure every learner does well at school and
leaves our institutions with the knowledge, skills and
qualifications that will give them the best chance of
success in adult life.
Our Mission: to ensure quality learning and teaching
take place in the classroom everyday.

3. The FOUR KEY PRIORITIES
Goal 1: Ensuring that Gauteng has effective schools and
learning institutions.
Goal 2 : GDE Head Office and Districts – Providing relevant,
coordinated and effective support.
Goal 3 : Enable young people to make the transition from
school to further education and or work/employment
that provides further training opportunities.
Goal 4 : Strengthen partnerships with all stakeholders,
resulting in education becoming a societal priority.

4. National Curriculum Statement
Critical Outcomes (until 2014)
Aims of CAPS (from 2012)
•identify and solve problems and make decisions using
critical and creative thinking;
• work effectively as individuals and with others as
members of a team;
• organise and manage themselves and their
activities responsibly and effectively;
• collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate
information;

5. National Curriculum Statement
Critical Outcomes (until 2014)
Aims of CAPS (from 2012) (cont.)
•communicate effectively using visual, symbolic
and/or language skills in various modes;
•use science and technology effectively and critically
showing responsibility towards the environment and
the health of others; and
• demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set
of related systems by recognising that problem
solving contexts do not exist in isolation.

6. Use of Lego in the Classroom
• Links to all of the critical outcomes or aims
• Foundation phase benefits include:
• Crossing the midline,
• Improved fine motor skills,
• A variety of vocabulary, language and mathematics
benefits
• Theme sets offer language linked to the specific theme
• Language and mathematics benefits cross all bands of
education : GET, FET and into Tertiary education.
• Team work and collaboration are constantly evident
• Problem solving is constantly taking place as learners
develop solutions to open ended problems.

8. Use of Lego in the Classroom cont.
Concepts addressed through Lego include:
Mathematics :
• Counting
• Measuring
• Colour
• Shape
• Mathematic vocabulary
Science and technology:
• Wheels and Axles
• Pivots and Hinges
• Gears and Pulleys
• Science and Technology vocabulary
Social Science
• Hemispheres
• Equator
• Shape of continents and related vocabulary

10. Developing 21st Century skills
For our learners to compete globally we must develop 21st Century skills,
These include the following skills:

11. How do we go about introducing these skills?
Through
Robotics
Robotic incorporates all of the specific outcomes or
aims in the curriculum and all of the 21st Century skills

12. Why participate in WRO and FLL?
• Scientific method
• Design Process
• Research
• Solve real life problems
• 21st Century skills
• Excellent values and attitudes
• Develop the whole child: Cognitive, Physical and Affective/emotional
• Introduction to programming leading to advanced programming skills
• Introduction to artificial intelligence

13. Knowing a programming language will be the
new literacy in the 21st Century
(Marc Perensky, Edutopia on line journal linked to the George Lucas Foundation)