STELABO (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS "STELABO") IS A STEM AND PROGRAMMING SCHOOL THAT OPENED WITH THE AIM OF LEARNING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND MATH STEM FIELDS AND ENHANCING SOCIAL SKILLS. IN THIS SECOND REPORT, WE INTRODUCE THE "ADVANCED CLASS" FOR 2ND AND 3RD GRADERS, WHERE THEY LEARN PHYSICS, ENGINEERING, AND PROGRAMMING.
(Interviewed by.)
Hiroaki Nishimura, STEM Business Promotion Office, IoT Business Promotion Division, New Business Headquarters, SB C&S Corporation
Children's curiosity and horizons will be broadened by learning how things work and the principles behind them.
Editor: Please tell us about the differences between the previous "Basic Class " and this "Advanced Class".
Nishimura: We use the same blocks as in the Basic Class, but the big difference is that the Advanced Class uses electrical parts. The curriculum is designed to help students solve more advanced problems by combining electric power. The Advanced Class is for 2nd and 3rd graders, and out of the 40 lessons, about 60% of the curriculum is made up of lessons using teaching blocks and about 40% of the curriculum is made up of programming lessons.
Editor: What learning elements were incorporated into the blocks that the children were making in class today?
Nishimura: Today, we started with a "zip line" that uses a pulley to ascend and descend a rope, and asked the students to think about the principle of the pulley and how the power of the motor is transmitted based on elements such as friction. Normally, the students learn one element in an hour, but this time was a summary session that included a combination of elements learned in the past, so the difficulty level may have been a little higher.
Editor: You've given about half of the 40 lessons, but when do you see the children grow?
Nishimura: As a teacher, I'm happy when the children apply the knowledge they learned before to making blocks in the lessons. That's why I try to think every day about how I can give the children more awareness. I would like to continue working with the children so that they can work on their lessons without losing their concentration.
Editor: Among the many programming classes, we heard positive comments from parents that the main reason they chose STELAB was because "it teaches not only programming, but also the basics of how things work.
