Chapman High School, in the Northern Areas of Gqeberha, has joined an exciting new chapter in STEM education with its participation in the Eastern Cape 100 Teams Initiative, launched by SpringBotsSouthAfrica.
Designed to foster skills in robotics, programming, and critical thinking, this initiative aims to place the Eastern Cape on the educational innovation map.
Rochenda Boswell, an educator at Chapman High, shared insights into what inspired the initiative, “SpringBotsSouthAfrica was motivated by the need to promote STEM education in the region. We are thrilled to be part of a programme that seeks to build young innovators for the future.”
The participating schools were chosen under the guidance of Kenneth Prins, the Eastern Cape Regional Coordinator, who played an integral role in the process.
At Chapman High School specifically, the primary goal is to provide learners with hands-on exposure to robotics and STEM concepts while fostering invaluable skills such as teamwork and innovation.
Speaking about the initiative, Boswell outlined: “Our aim is to empower learners by delivering practical experience in robotics and STEM education. By equipping them with vital 21st-century skills, we are preparing them for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
At the heart of the initiative are the innovative XRP kits. These kits, comprising sensors, motors, and microcontrollers, allow learners to design, build, and programme their own robots, making abstract STEM concepts more tangible. Adding extra excitement, a robotics competition on May 24, is set to challenge teams to unleash their problem-solving skills through creative and diligent programming.
Boswell remarked, “The competition will be a platform to test their critical thinking, collaboration, and technical skills as they complete various tasks.”
The introduction of the XRP kits and the excitement surrounding robotics has already sparked enthusiasm among learners and educators. Principal Manuel Syce, an advocate of STEM initiatives at the school, hopes to sustain the robotics team post-competition by expanding their impact to neighbouring schools in a bid to “pay it forward.”
“Watching learners engage in this programme has reaffirmed its potential to enhance their abilities in problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation. These are the kinds of real-life skills that will lay a foundation for success,” said Boswell.
The Eastern Cape 100 Teams Initiative is perfectly aligned with South Africa’s broader goals of advancing STEM education and preparing learners for the challenges of a tech-driven world. Plans to expand the programme to other schools and stakeholders are already in the pipeline, with SpringBotsSouthAfrica welcoming collaborations.
Chapman High’s journey is supported by invaluable partners and contributors. Boswell expressed her gratitude, saying, “We deeply thank Principal Syce, Dr Ron Beyers, Kenneth Prins from SpringBotsSouthAfrica, and our collaborators from S4 Integration for their expertise and guidance. Special thanks also go to Tangible Africa for their block coding kit, which has been vital to our coding club.”
As the robotics competition draws nearer, learners are gearing up to showcase their talents and technical prowess. “This initiative is not only providing technical knowledge but also igniting a passion for innovation that will shape the leaders and problem-solvers of tomorrow,” a proud Boswell concluded.
