Development of robotics workshops for state schools in Paraná’s northern pioneer

Abstract

With the growth of Industry 4.0, the use of robotics in the world of work has become more widespread, which is why the area has been promoted in schools, thus cultivating critical thinking in students through problem-solving and project development. In 2021, the Paraná State Department of Education delivered robotics kits to schools in the basic education network. However, despite this action, the schools that received the kits were not given proper support. In this way, the Federal Institute of Paraná - Jacarezinho Campus and the GaJac Maker Lab, with partners SEBRAE, the Northern Pioneer Regional Innovation System (SRI) and the Jacarezinho and Ibaiti Regional Education Centers, held two workshops with teachers and students to help them develop robotics. In May and August 2022 robot assembly and programming workshops were offered, in which 19 schools from the North of Paraná were able to take part with their students and teachers. Using a kit provided by the Jacarezinho Regional Center, IFPR students developed a line-following robot for the GeniusCon 2022 Robotics competition. The IFPR, through GaJac, organized the robotics competition and created its rules. It should be mentioned that one of the teams presents won a state award for assembling and programming a robot. There are also plans to offer other workshops, training students and teachers from schools in robotics and Industry 4.0, both in the educational and professional spheres. This expectation led to the creation of the NPmaker project at the beginning of 2023, a project that serves 4 Regional Education Centers, Cornélio Procópio, Ibaiti, Jacarezinho and Wenceslau Braz and around 50 cities. The IFPR, through GaJac, organized the robotics competition and created its rules.