Abu Dhabi Schools Fully Prepared To Compete In World Robot Olympiad 2011

Within Abu Dhabi Educational Council (ADEC)’s preparations to host the 2011 World Robot Olympiad (WRO) in the capital, male and female students in Abu Dhabi schools are getting ready for this global competition through designing and programming robots. The competition is being held for the first time outside East Asia with the participation of about 2,000 students from 40 countries around the world.

Schools of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Gharbia started receiving robots in preparation for the Olympiad. Training courses were also conducted for teachers from a variety of subjects, including math, science and ICT so as to introduce them to robotics hardware and software. In the first series of seven workshops approximately 400 teachers and advisory staff were trained. Teachers will be training students during their leisure time and integrated classroom activities, to assemble robots that perform a variety of tasks for a variety of purposes.

Students according to their level of skills and knowledge start with identifying robot hardware and understanding parts according to specific mechanisms and functions, to programming robots through external voices and movements that are received by the robot through sensors, based on which the robot. The Robots created differ according to the academic stage of students and the purpose of the robot.

The response of students and teachers to this activity has been overwhelming. The demand to participate in introductory training and more advanced courses is strong.

Director General of ADEC H.E. Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al-Khaili praised the great efforts exerted by managements of schools and teaching staffs in training and qualifying students to participate at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) in 2011. He also expressed his admiration for the advanced level of robotic techniques developed by the Muzdalifa School for Girls in al Wathba.

Al-Khaili stressed Abu Dhabi Educational Council (ADEC)’s keenness to develop students’ skills, open new horizons to improve their abilities in technological fields and encourage them to take part in global competitions. Furthermore, ADEC attaches great importance to robotics as technological means that promotes the spirit of creativity, innovation and competition for students at all academic stages, in accordance with the Strategic Plan that aim at improving educational outputs and curricula.

H.E. Al-Khaili explained that the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2011 is an annual event that attracts students gifted in the field of technology from around the world with the aim of showing their innovative and technical skills. Teams of students can participate in either of two categories of competition, Regular or Open. The Regular Competition requires that participants solve basic problems within a set time period. The Open Competition will require students to assemble robots under a certain theme. Participation is open to all students from public and private schools across three age levels, elementary, junior high and high.

Worth mentioning is that Abu Dhabi Educational Council (ADEC) is organizing the National Robot Olympiad 2010 (WRO-UAE) in September, as part of preparing for the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2010, which will be held in Manila this November. During the local version of the competition, the team that will be representing the Emirates in the first edition of the WRO-Arabia will be chosen. ADEC is hosting the inaugural WRO-Arabia as a means of developing student skills in this field in the region as well as a means as testing readiness for the 2011 WRO.
 

View News Headlines