Author: npujades

Learn through experimentation

Life is a learning path that in order to be able to carry it we must live it. Basically since we will never learn from the experience of others. Only through our experiences, making and accepting mistakes, we can draw our own conclusions to move forward.

Curiosity is important

That is why the experience itself is what teaches us how to train as people. Learning to move forward and grow is the key to overcoming the different obstacles that may arise throughout life.

In short, living is experiencing. It is part of the human essence and our instinct of curiosity.

What is learning?

To understand the importance of experimentation, it is necessary to know what learning is. Well, learning is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values ​​and attitudes. These are obtained through study, teaching and personal growth. As a result of experience, instruction, reasoning and observation.

This is one of the most important mental functions, whether in humans, animals or artificial systems. Various factors intervene, ranging from the place where the human being develops to the principles implemented in the family.

Learning is related to education and personal development. Generally, better results are obtained when the student is motivated. That is when you feel like learning and strives for it. The qual to carry out this process uses memory and attention span.

What types of learning exist?

There are several types of learning and it is interesting to know them. Among the main types of learning we can find:

• Receptive learning: Those activities in which the learning subject should only understand and understand the content and then reproduce it, without having any kind of personal discovery.
• Learning by discovery: In this type of learning, the subject does not receive the information passively. If not you discover the concepts and relationships by your own cognitive abilities.
• Repetitive learning: This occurs when the individual who is receiving the information memorizes the class without understanding it, that is, he learned the class at face value instead of understanding it.
• Meaningful learning: It is the type of learning that arises when the individual who is receiving information and orders it. Since with the previous knowledge acquired it can make sense according to your learning.
• Observational learning: It is carried out when an individual observes the behavior of another subject called a model.
• Latent learning: In this one an individual acquires new behaviors that remain hidden until an incentive is offered. Many times when you have learned a language and travel to the relevant country the incentive to practice it is much greater than in your hometown.
• Trial and error learning: It is carried out when a response to a problem is tested several times as necessary until the correct solution is found.
• Dialogic learning: It is developed through dialogue and this can occur in any situation of the educational environment.

The original way of the human being to learn is experimentation. This form arises through the need to find a solution to various problems that may arise. That is why numerous studies affirm that any experience suffered in childhood leaves a mark. And over time this footprint becomes an apprenticeship.

That is why children must generate their own knowledge through their own experiences and emotions. In this way they will obtain meaningful knowledge that will last over the years.

There are several experiments that children can undergo to affirm their learning. Among them are:

Observational Experiments:

Plant life: in this activity the students will observe the vital processes of the plants. Through experiments with real plants, in which they can see how they feed, breathe and how they react to external stimuli.
Invisible ink: it is an experiment designed so that students understand the process of chemical reactions and how they work. This promotes the capacity of observation and individual analysis of each of them.
Hunting clouds: an activity in order for students to identify and recognize the different clouds, where they occur and which meteorological phenomena are usually associated through clouds.

Terrestrial magnetism: you sew in a fun way to create a compass, this is responsible for strengthening the development of creative ability, knowing the magnetic field and its poles directly.

Fun chemical experiments to do in family:

Dancing worms: a fun experiment for children in chemistry that is produced by warm water and vinegar these together create an effervescent force that manages to raise some gummy worms to the surface.
Crystal letters: children learn how borax settles in pipe cleaners (elongated brushes) because of the chemical reaction between water and water, causing a crystallization effect.
Liquid rainbow: an experiment where children can identify how the heaviest elements are left in the bottom of a jar full of liquids. And the light ones remain on the surface and as they do not mix giving a rainbow effect.

Importance of experimenting to have a comprehensive vision

Train human beings with an integral vision promoting the development of skills with scientific thoughts in children. As well as questioning and reflecting on natural phenomena by investigating the causes that generate them.

All this will help you become an analytical, objective and critical being, capable of making your own conclusions and hypotheses through the information in your hands.

Conclusions

Experiencing is part of the life of all human beings. Through it we can solve the different problems that may arise in an objective analytical way. Since this will help us define ourselves as people.

Experience is the best way of teaching for life and education. That is why children must undergo various tests that prove their reasoning and ability to analyze, to give solutions to various circumstances. In this way their knowledge will be more accurate when learning with their classmates.

Women in technology

Where are the female CTOs and CIOs? Looking down the pipeline for the next generation of women in technology, the picture isn’t pretty. When we examine each of the STEM disciplines, technology is the only field where the participation of women has decreased in the last twenty years.

Tech’s gender diversity and leadership is an important issue to address

Judith Spitz, CIO at Verizon

Why is gender diversity important?

Gender diversity is an ethical argument, and is increasingly becoming an economic one.

Recent studies have shown that companies who increase their gender diversity also receive a greater return on investment and less volatility. If revenue and profitability are important to your company, then you should strive to achieve a more gender diverse team. Professions in the tech industry are some of the highest paying jobs, so it is important for women to have economic fairness and take advantage of the opportunities. More women in technology leadership roles could help level the economic playing field. 

As the tech industry continues to grow, the number of new hires increases as well. Judith Spitz, a Verizon CIO for ten years, explains that, as of 2015 there were 500,000 open tech jobs. And that number is expected to double in the next five years. “It’s pure math. It’s very difficult to see how we can meet the technology workforce needs. If we’re literally leaving more than half of the available talent pool sitting on the bench” – Spitz. Tech’s gender diversity and leadership is an important issue to address. To offer balance to a male dominated industry, and because of the strength of the impact it would have. 

In 2015 there were 500,000 open tech jobs, and that number is expected to double in the next five years.

Judith Spitz, CIO at Verizon

Female tech education:

Currently, technology is an increasingly important role in the everyday life of the average person. Therefore the knowledge and skills learned through science, engineering and technology become vital for each and every citizen. Students will choose technology if they have come into contact with it in a positive way, are confident in their abilities, have technical skills and experience, and feel that a profession in technology matches their self-image.

Girls are more successful at school, receiving better grades

With respect to these factors, girls fall behind. They come into contact with technology less often, thereby receiving less knowledge about technology and fewer skills. Girls tend to be less confident in their capacities and their attitudes toward natural sciences are less positive compared to boys.

However, girls are more successful at school and on average receive better grades than boys, but they less frequently enter the fields of engineering, science or technology. We can assume that in order to achieve a fair gender balance in technology related topics in education. And as a result in the labor market, the attention should be aimed at offering girls more opportunities. Opportunities to become familiar with technology and gain the skills and experience in this area. Although technology is somewhat neglected for early childhood education in European countries. Boys are able to keep an interest in technological topics, while girls tend to turn away from technology at an early age. It is important to expand our knowledge of technology education and give attention to gender differences in primary education.

Let’s change it!

What jobs will be automated?

Today’s topic has been on the palate for a few years and in some sectors it has already taken place. It’s about job automation. The interaction with all kinds of technological devices that allow us to save time is becoming increasingly common. And of course this inevitable interaction also had to reach the work environment.

In this article we will do a little research on the different trends and fields where automation has managed to penetrate, and where it has also set its sights to take place in the not too distant future. Lets start by the beginning…

What is job automation?

When talking about work automation, we talk about the substitution of people in the workplace with machines or robots. Which are capable of performing the same work, but, more quickly and more efficiently.

Yes, the idea seems a bit invasive, but, nevertheless, in the sun today we are far from reaching this situation, since humans continue to have certain advantages with respect to machines, especially in the decision and programming part of technical issues.

Humans still have certain advantages over machines

Even so, the idea is set in motion and sooner rather than later it will take space in our society, and in our jobs.

What kind of jobs have more automations?

With automation, comes the labor replacement of some professionals, some with more preparation and others not so much. But it is important to understand what all the parts that can be done by machines and robots have in common.

In which sectors will we have to know how to live with robots and machines that will help us to do complicated or monotonous work?

• Health: The area of ​​medicine is one of the main principles of automation, doctors will have more help as technology advances and a place is made in their consultations. It will also be helpful for doctors to attend patients with a previous diagnosis made by computer and based on protocols. Thus to be able to devote more attention and time in the specific cases of his specialty. A more technology also less invasive tests for the body

However, there are many areas within medicine where human work will remain very present. Such as in emergencies, psychology and all tasks where decision making and human treatment is necessary.

• Engineering: Automation threatens those jobs where the human has to design common constructions. And basically find the optimal solutions to repetitive challenges. That is why creativity is and will continue to be a highly demanded skill and probably apart from machines.
• Transportation: It is no secret to anyone that with the arrival of transports with an automatic pilot or 100% automatic. They will play a very important role in the logistics and transport sector of both goods and people.
• Security and surveillance: Automation threatens those who perform routine surveillance functions. Since over time a variety of sophisticated technological systems are emerging to perform this function. That is precisely possible based on sensors. Taking a step higher for certain employees and dedicate themselves to supervising those systems.
• Legal: Computer programs will also facilitate the work of the most bureaucratic issues. And simplify complex matters such as law and case resolution.
  Task automation and teleworking

Every company handles repetitive tasks such as extracting data, generating reports, transferring files from one location to another. Currently, the tendency to use computer programs and tools that serve to automate these and generate free time to devote to other things.

Telecommuting as a new trend

Telecommuting also plays a very important role as moving to an office every day to work online is also one of the areas that a company can optimize. And in many technology companies, the hiring of personnel working remotely for specific tasks or not. And also with a flexible schedule is increasingly being carried out. With flexible hours, workers can decide what they spend more or less time depending on priorities. As well in their personal lives.

As for the automation of jobs we should not be scared if our positions will be affected. But having the information in hand we can be aware of this revolution of automation and analyze. Analyze what tasks we perform are those that cannot be automated and which would gain more time if we did them automatically.

Digital transformation in companies

In fact, according to IDC data, today one in three CEOs of the largest companies worldwide. Has placed the digital transformation of their companies as a priority in their objectives.

Decision making and automation

Decision making is an element that characterizes humans, and in work activities it is more than necessary to carry out their own work. However, process automation is already a reality in society, and in a variety of organizations, often overcoming this decision-making work of humans.

In this way, robotization is coming to take control of different tasks in companies, to the point of considering systems that propose solutions for an organization.

Automated human resources

For this reason, there are many companies that are currently using the use of algorithms when choosing candidates to perform a job within their organization, this did not happen a while ago, which tells us about the impact that automation has had during this time.

But are robots really more efficient than humans? It is the question that is still in debate, however what is true is that computer tools can have that capacity. Reducing errors at the moment, this is the reason why they are gaining the trust of many entrepreneurs.

Decision making

Without going too far, we also see it when writing on a computer and making some grammatical error. The proofreaders immediately indicate us underlining the wrong words.

If it is true that these new technologies have the ability to make the best possible decisions, it is worth asking: What will be the role of the human decision in the future in the face of these automation developments?

The key is in human supervision

Luckily human supervision and intervention will still be necessary despite these technological advances. So the decision work of humans is guaranteed and will not disappear so soon.

Humans are no longer necessary in certain jobs and maybe you hadn’t even heard. For example, in Tokyo, the Yurikamome train has lines that are automated thus replacing the driver’s work.

Similarly, person-to-person assistance has been replaced in some countries by machines that offer a completely personalized service. Likewise, a job that has already been automated is the toll collection on the roads and many others concerning the payment of purchases on card.

Learning programming through robots like Mochi

The importance of programming is present throughout the world due to the ever expanding field of technology. Many people say that computer programming is the career of the future, at Scratch School we agree.

In 2015, fifteen european countries, including Spain, had already implemented coding courses into the school curriculum. In the United States, children are participating in camps, afterschool programs and coding websites.

Programming is part of every form of technology, from applications and video games to graphics and animations, and as the demand for those products increases. So does the demand for computer programming professionals.

Careers in software development are expected to grow at a 24% over the next 10 years

For example, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Careers in software development are expected to grow at an astounding rate of 24% over the course of the next 10 years. All other jobs combined are expected to grow at only 7% over the same amount of time.

“Software Developers are responsible for many of the apps you have grown to love. And in the next 10 years there will be thousands of new apps that come to life. So if you’re tech-savvy, a good leader and also creative enough to come up with the next big thing, this might be the job for you.” (HeyTutor). Additionally, computer programming positions usually begin with a high paying salary and along with the exponential growth of the field. Working as a programmer is seen to be a profession that will endure for a long time. 

Learning programming is a difficult task

Learning computer programming is a complex and difficult task that requires problem solving skills with perseverance. It is universally challenging for people in introductory programming courses. We can say this because of the data showing a high number of failures and dropouts from those courses.

At Scratch School, we have observed that children and students need a more complete and enjoyable robotics tool. Currently, we are developing such a tool, Mochi is here to help facilitate the task of computer programming. Computer programming courses have a reputation of being very demanding, so beginners are intimidated.

Our goal is to give children, ages seven and up, early exposure to programming methods and concepts. Early exposure is positive for a few reasons, it reduces the intimidation and it increases the motivation to build their knowledge.

Programming is challenging

Programming and coding builds problem solving skills because when faced with a challenge of a bug. They must solve the issue in order to run the program properly. Children are the future, so it is beneficial to equip them with the necessary tools and knowledge. In order for them to create and innovate to shape their own future. If children receive a strong education in programming and coding, it can be easy for them to find high paying jobs as adults.

What does Mochi teach?

Mochi teaches children logical reasoning and problem solving skills. Teamwork and collaboration are also skills gained while learning, they collaborate with their friends, classmates and teachers to find new solutions.

An educational robot is a perfect tool for children to experiment with and learn from. Because children enjoy interaction with a companion, Mochi is their friend. Children learn by programming Mochi themselves, starting with simple tasks and actions, and as the children’s level of comprehension evolves, so does Mochi. Through their imagination and creativity, children are able to see the evolution of the robot. Giving them a greater experience while learning.

It is quite amazing for us to see how much the children enjoy the robots.  Because not only are they learning basic programming, but they are also having fun while doing so. We believe that if a child is having fun they are more motivated to learn. 

This has been a special year, not only for all the improvements incorporated into our endearing educational robot but also for the feedback received from the little ones lately.

That is why we explain below how our participation in the Maker Faire fair took place in Barcelona on the weekend of October 5 and 6.

Initially we had the opportunity to present our Mochi Robot prototype to test it in front of the public and we did not miss it.

Mochi selected to present at the Maker Faire

Being one of the initiatives selected for the Maker Faire we prepared with great desire and enthusiasm some exercises. Exercises that attendees could develop their own programs with the Robot. The exercises had a fund based on sustainability and recycling among other things.

Exercises programmed by young attendees

Initially the assistants had to guide the robot towards the appropriate container. According to the type of material of the “random” residue that appeared on the TV screen.

On the other hand, the children were able to program the LED matrix to change the style of eyes as well as to write their names on it.

Mochi Robot certified by girls

Additionally, many boys and girls wanted to program their own color scheme in RGB LEDs, discovering part of how programming works, how some colors are generated by red, green and blue lights. By varying their intensity in the programming blocks, they were able to learn interactively and quickly.

One of the big surprises apart from the great acceptance that Mochi Robot had was that we always had the stand full of people doing activities, praising the little robot and its capabilities.

The unexpected appearance of Mochi Robot on television

An anecdote was that some families arrived who wanted to see the robot after having appeared on television, in the Betevé report.

Mochi is not a classic robot. It is the robot that grows and learns as it completes exercises with the help of its coach.

Program your Mochi to evolve it

STEAM is the acronym for fashion related to subjects such as science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

Nowadays many jobs are directly related to the creation of technology and science. To prepare for the future, Mochi will help us learn highly valued skills such as programming or electronics.

As you program your Mochi, it will grow and learn. Each time it will allow us to teach you more complex programs and overcome the funniest challenges you can imagine.

A fun way to learn programming

We are very used to being told that we have to learn to program but the complicated thing is knowing where to start and not getting frustrated in the attempt.

As soon as you start programming the Mochi Robot challenges you can gain agility at the same time that your robot does. You will grow together and be two allies of programming. The robot will bring out the best in you and thank you for training it with new skills.

Ready to get into an exciting educational adventure?