My project is about developing Low Cost Coding and Robotics kits and run coding and robotics clubs as a way of introducing the teaching of coding and robotics in schools. As a Foundation phase Departmental Head and ICT champion in a rural public school I have realized that our school is falling behind with regard to the teaching of coding and robotics. I have built from scratch a prototype using wires and reusable materials. The prototype is fully functional, and I am currently using it in my school to run a coding and robotics club. Now my project is aimed at mass producing the prototype that I build and package low-cost coding and robotics kits that will not only benefit my school but other rural public schools across our circuit. The main goal of my project is to train learners and help them develop and build inexpensive, affordable prototypes for learning coding.
The prototype is very innovative because I reuse and repurpose resources. The prototype is built by reusing and repurposing materials such as wires to build a structure, rubber bands to serve as a pulley or drivetrain on, bottle caps to make the wheels. With regard to the motor of the prototype, I do not have the software to actully programme the motors to perform commands. Therefore I reused the motors that are extracted from old radio cassette players and broken toys freely with the permission of the learners parents. Reusing motors still serves the purpose because the motor can rotate oposite direction. Since there are not enough laptops at our school to power up the model or motor, I make use of the of the portible Size (D) battery to power up the our innovation project. In Coding and robotics the robot at some point have to push and pull objects. The D battery is powerful enough to drive our project to be able to pull and push objects when needed. Our project also uses coloured rubber bands to serve as a pulley between the motor and plastic wheels. The rubber bands are in different sizes to challenge learners when they will be busy problem solving activities. Therefore, the coding team will have to solve that problem in making their selection of bands. The project is adaptable and can be modified with ease to cater for coding clubs that have learners of varying ability levels
Observing National Science Week since 2024. Hosting Chokwe Interactive Exhibitions.
Presenting the innovation at Annual Edtech Conferences and summits
My prototype has made a great effort since its inception. There has been lot of upgrades done
on the prototype. The prototype is now being implemented as a fully complete project. However
it is still open to upgrades and improvements. It endured challenges of non traction bottle caps,
unstable power supply connections, control or coding switches and difficulty in fitting
components due to overall prototype size.
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Trevor Noah Foundation for providing a
grant in supporting my innovation “Coding and Robotics using Low-Cost and reusable
resources. I will forever be grateful to the Foundation for investing in my innovative project. I
also extend my gratitude to YALI Regional Leadership Centre of southern Africa and its partners in the Education Change makers cohort 3. University of South Africa, USAID, and Mastercard Foundation.
Follow the facebook pages: "Future Skills Base" and Chokwe Primary School
Youtube Channel: Matlhomola Innocent Moapola"
Contact the founder at +27 846562950
