With an increased emphasis on teaching computing in schools, there is increasing demand for teachers to introduce technology and coding as part of the curriculum. This 10 credit special purpose level-8 award is designed to assist teachers in developing exciting new coding-related activities using robots.

This course will provide the learner with a general description of the key hardware components required to create fun and interactive robots for the classroom. This module aims to enhance and support the work of the teacher by utilising a pedagogy that uses robots and other simple hardware devices. The main material covered in the module will seek to develop the learners’ knowledge as it pertains to teaching computer coding at primary and post-primary level.
Specifically the objectives of the course are to:

• Assemble a simple robot and investigate how it can be used to teach problem solving.

• Recognise and describe the diverse components of the computer system by their basic function, internal implementation, inputs and outputs, and their relationship to each other.

• Identify and implement appropriate logic to control simple robot behaviour.

• Evaluate how code and sensors can be used to automate robot coordination

• Evaluate and critically appraise the utilisation of appropriate hardware devices

• Independently research, devise and document hardware devices for use in the classroom

• Recognise the benefits of problem-solving and robotics in education.