*Orla Brooks. Photograph: Brian Arthur
PRIMARY school students from across Co Clare are getting hands-on with robotics as part of a free STEM workshop.
Analog Devices (ADI) have rolled out the free STEM workshops to thirteen schools in the county as part of its primary schools robotics competition.
Participating Clare schools include St Aidan’s NS, Shannon, St Finnachta’s NS Sixmilebridge; St Conaire’s NS, Shannon; St Tola’s NS, Shannon; Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg, Ennis; Ennis CBS; Scariff NS; Ballina Primary School; Clonmoney NS; Cratloe NS; Ennis NS; St Flannan’s NS, Inagh and Knockanean NS.
Running from January to mid-March, the workshops give fifth and sixth class pupils the chance to build and programme their own robots, encouraging creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills.
A long-standing popular initiative amongst Limerick schools, last year Analog Devices expanded programme beyond the county to schools within a 50km radius of ADI’s Raheen campus, including schools across Clare.
Following the workshops, students will compete for places in the semi-finals of the Analog Devices Primary Schools Robotics Competition, taking place in mid-March, with the grand final scheduled for April.
ADI has once again partnered with LearnIt to deliver the workshops. Over the past decade, almost 9,000 students have taken part in the programme.
Participating Co. Clare schools include:
Speaking about the initiative, Kate O’Riordan, Senior Manager at Analog Devices, said the programme aims to “ignite a passion for STEM through hands-on learning in a fun and engaging way”.
