Pupils at Thornton College have been trying out advanced robotics in the classroom. Working with Reach Robotics as part of the pilot programme for ReachEDU, the Milton Keynes school has been using quadruped MekaMon robots to teach coding.
The new ReachEDU app offers a structured pathway to learning coding, as well as the option to be creative once students have got to grips with the concepts.
The MekaMon in action
Joanne Hall, a Year 6 ICT teacher at Thornton, said: “Coding is the literacy of the 21st century, so it’s an absolutely crucial skill for my students.
“What’s great about MekaMon is its personality. The students immediately latch onto its character, and the level of movement means they can create really fun and engaging outputs for their coding.
“I can also see loads of potential for cross-curricular lessons outside of coding – I’m really looking forward to experimenting more.”
Jo Scott, Thornton’s careers and enterprise leader, said: “The reception to MekaMon at our STEM event last month was amazing, so, naturally, we were delighted to be part of the EDU pilot programme.
“As a girls’ school, we are particularly keen to promote STEM to our pupils, both in terms of their studies and future careers.”
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John Rees, co-founder of Reach Robotics, said: “It has been brilliant working with Thornton College. As we prepare to launch ReachEDU next month, we want to ensure we are getting as much feedback and input from teachers and pupils as possible.
“We want to deliver an education platform that entertains, inspires and educates. Our time at Thornton is integral to achieving this aim.”
