**New** Coding and Robotics at Laerskool Akasia

As Laerskool Akasia progresses deeper into the 4th Industrial Revolution, coding is becoming the new literacy. Our Coding and Robotics course teaches both block-based code and text-based code in a way that even a six-year old can understand.

The courses take students from beginner's level to expert level. No prior knowledge of coding or any equipment is required. The courses are user-friendly and teach students computational skills, problem solving and perseverance skills, Maths skills and critical thinking skills.

Technology changes rapidly and our children must be able to adapt, be agile minded and most importantly prepared for the future working world.

The 4IR should not be dismissed as a buzzword - it is real, and it is here where our lives will become intertwined with technology, the edges between reality and virtual worlds will blur and we need to ensure our children will be effective workers in this rapidly changing environment.

Curriculum Overview - CAPS Aligned

Our curriculum comprises Physical coding and play activities; Tangible coding with obejects and verbal instructions; Coding cards or Symbols; Simple character instructions; Simple visual block-based code symbols and constructions; Written instructions, for Foundation Phase.

Visual code symbols and constructs (Flowchart) for Intermediate Phase, Simple Pseudocode Sentence Algorithms for Senior Phase, and Program Code for EFT FET Phase.

We offer both block-based coding and text-based coding to our learners depending on the phase and relevant grades.

Download Coding and Robotics Curriculum Overview

The following programming languages are utilized at Laerskool Akasia:

Programming languages used:

   1. Scratch - https://scratch.mit.edu/
   2. Bua! - Read Whitepaper
   3. Python - https://www.python.org/

**New** School Manufacturing Hub - 3D Printing Lab

We offer 3D printing technology, bringing computer-aided designed objects out of the computer screen and into the real, physical world and then into the hands of students for inspection, analysis, and other processes that benefit from physical manipulation.

This is a center that utilizes various professional 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routing devices and other technology to support curricular and research needs of learners, teachers and staff across the school.

Offering more than standard 3D printing, the facility houses equipment and technology that facilitates the use of various materials and processes. Additionally, a CNC plotter helps facilitate computer-generated art projects.

Real-world practical products we manufacture at our centre:

1. Geometry Ruler - Buy for only R29

2. Geometry Triangle - Buy for only R39

3. Geometry Protractor - Buy for only R49

4. Stationary Holder (Caddy) - Buy for only R99

5. Sport: Chess Pieces - Buy for only R499

6. Sport: Tennis Racket - Buy for only R599

7. Sport: Hockey Stick - Buy for only R699

Download Coding and Robotics School Manufacturing Hub Brochure

Robotics Toy (R-Toy) - EV3 Equivalent Robotics Subject Strand

We also offer EV3 equivalent robotics as a subject strand at our school and this has a positive learning experience for our learners. Learners interact with robots in the classroom and make them perform various motions and tasks; Robotics STEM lessons are extremely important for pupils as they prepare to enter the 21st-century workforce. Through robotics, pupils can learn more than just how to code..

It is the second generation edition of Robotics Toy (R-Toy). The Robotics Toy (R-Toy) includes computerized modular centers, motors, and other parts that can be used to create mechanical systems.

Our Robotics Toy (R-Toy) offers a wider variety of 4IR functionalities ranging from manufacturing 3D printable toys to building real-world IoT (Internet of Things) projects. It utilizes a locally-developed open-source multi-lingual coding languages, and we provide it at an affordable price.