Getting Children into Research

Prof Mamokgethi SetatiVice Principal: Research and

Innovationsetatrm@unisa.ac.za

Why this session?

• The FIRST® LEGO® League program is designed to show kids how exciting science, technology, and engineering can be.

• Research and problem solving are integral parts of these fields and keys to the success of any real-world engineering team.

The FLL Real-World Problem themes

• 2009 Smart Moves – the transportation of the world.

• 2010 Body Forward – the trends in Bio-Medical Engineering.

• 2011 Food Factor – the issues of food contamination as a world issue that affects all nations.

• 2012 Senior Solution – how to keep old people engaged and integrated in the community in which they live.

What is research about?

Why do research?

Why get children interested in research?

• To satisfy their curiosity.• To encourage them to think critically about

the problems that they confronted with• To Increase their general knowledge and

world knowledge about real-world issues.• Prepares them for an academic

environment (post school)• Helps them with their school work projects.• Consider solutions from a ‘young’ mind

perspective – no bias, preconceived, conformed …

Teaching children to do research is important because

• Core Subjects: Children must learn beyond the BASICS REQUIRED.

• Learning Skills: they learn to use what they have learned, e.g. critical thinking, application and implementation, thinking of new things, communication and collaboration.

• 21st Century Tools: they learn how to use technology to find answers

• 21st Century Context: REAL world …• 21st Century Content: Discerning and

analyzing the body of knowledge available

How to do research

How to get children interested?