Courses

Spain - Santander

From July 7 to July 14, 2024, I participated in an Erasmus+ educational course for teachers in the Spanish city of Santander. The course was primarily focused on Robotics and 3D Printing, but we also covered other topics in the field of computer science that can be used in both primary school levels. Along with me, seven teachers from Slovakia and the Czech Republic took part in the course. The training was conducted in Czech, organized by the company Edutime, s. r. o. from the Czech Republic. The main instructor was Hanka Šandová, who guided us throughout the week, not only in the field of education but also shared valuable tips about the city of Santander and its surroundings. Edutime also arranged accommodation for all participants in a small guesthouse, which was just a 10-minute walk from the beach.

The course itself ran from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Since the number of participants was small, we mainly used the spaces of our guesthouse for training. The education focused mainly on using robotics in primary school computer science classes. We were introduced to several types of robotic kits. The simplest ones were designed for preschool children, then we explored robots for first-grade students, and also those intended for second-grade primary school students. I was most interested in the robots connected to Microbits, as we don't have these types of robots in our school yet. We learned how to easily build different types of robots from these kits, either following the instructions or using our own imagination. We then learned how to connect these robots to Microbits. The final part was learning programming commands to control the robots.

In the next phase, our course focused on using 3D printers during primary school lessons. First, we were introduced to different types of 3D printers. We discussed which ones are most suitable for our teaching methods. Then we learned how to create objects using various programs (Tinkercad, OnShape), how to modify them, and how to prepare them for printing. Additionally, we learned how to set the printer parameters before printing. We also discussed which materials are most suitable for 3D printing objects in a primary school environment. One day of our training took place in the local Fablab – a 3D printing center. There, under the guidance of professionals, we had the opportunity to print objects using less common materials like wood and metal.

At the end of the course, each participant created their own project, which they then presented to their colleagues and the instructor. I chose to build two types of robots using Microbits. The first was a model of a car that could be controlled with a remote. The second was an electronic thermometer for measuring environmental temperature.

In the afternoons and on the weekend, we took time to relax and explore the beauty of Santander. In addition to visiting the local beaches, we also toured various cultural and natural landmarks (Altamira Cave, local zoo, etc.).

I definitely recommend this course to other colleagues who are interested in participating in a similar Erasmus+ project.

(Mgr. Ivan Dudáš )

France - Nice