About the Robotics Social Club program
The Robotics Social Club program has been developed to create opportunities for all students, including students with autism spectrum conditions, to learn social skills, make friends and socialise with peers over a common interest, and enhance their sense of engagement and belonging at school. It was developed to target students in Years 7 & 8, but can be adapted to cater for a broader range of students.
Students learn programming, problem solving and social skills at school, by working in teams to complete robotics challenges using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® robotics equipment and software. There is a particular focus on developing students’ Personal and Social Capabilities (a part of the Australian Curriculum, ACARA 2016), particularly Social management skills to:
This website provides information about the robotics challenges and social/teamwork skills that students will cover from week to week. The program has built-in flexibility to allow schools and teachers to adapt and tailor the program to best meet their students’ needs, as the Club progresses. Therefore, challenges are grouped in Beginning, Developing, and Culminating phases.
How parents/carers can help and become involved
- Ask your child what “Phase” of the Robotics Social Club they are currently completing – Beginning, Developing, or Culminating. Go to the relevant webpage and ask your child which of the listed robotics challenges they have been working on.
- Use the information on relevant robotics challenge page to stimulate discussion, ask questions, and prompt your child to reflect on the robotics task and social/teamwork skills.
- Use the language in the Student Reflection Sheet to prompt and reinforce your child’s demonstration of the social skills in settings outside of school (e.g. with siblings; friends; sporting activities; other clubs).
- Your school may choose to invite parents/carers to attend key milestone sessions and/or the last 20 minutes of certain sessions, to observe the teams of students and their robotics creations in action, and perhaps take part in a challenge yourself!
- Contact the teachers facilitating the Robotics Social Club in your school if:
- You would like further information and details about the Robotics Social Club.
- You would like to share information about how to support your child’s successful participation in the Club.
- You would like to receive feedback about your child’s progress in the Club.