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Riihimäki is reforming robotics education for young children

5.9.2023 Releases Education and training Living in Riihimäki Basic education Residence Schools Robotics Early childhood education

Two boys and one girl studying a vehicle robot at a table. An adult teacher stands by.
Kim Saarinen

The curriculum for Riihimäki's first and second graders, i.e. elementary education, has been updated and was put into use in August. In addition, new robotics teaching materials and learning environments have been acquired for second grade students.

"At Riihimäki, children learn future skills with the help of robotics. When children get to know technology and its possibilities, they will do well in a technologizing world and learn skills that will be useful in any profession in the future," says Reetta Viitanen, special expert in robotics education.

Children in the second grade can now get to know the basics of robotics, mechanics and programming through a space adventure. By working together, thinking and experimenting, the students can build, for example, a space rocket, a Mars rover, or get to know the fascinating world of the friendly Hexbug insects.

Primary school teachers have the opportunity to participate in a two-day advanced robotics training. Some of them have already participated in the training last spring.

Skills for the future are learned at Riihimäki already in early childhood education. New robotics learning tools have been acquired for preschoolers and early childhood education, and early childhood education personnel will receive training in robotics during the current fall.

In Riihimäki preschools, kindergartens and family day care, there will be learning moments with robotics. In these robotics lessons, children learn to understand the human-built environment and explore how devices and machines work.

"During the robotics lessons, children's participation is strengthened, they build, learn programming and the basics of mechanics. Learning is the joy of understanding", describes Eevakaisa Särkkä, an expert in robotics teaching.