Ngakuru School recently took a step towards revolutionising its science and technology teaching and learning. Funding from Rotorua Trust has aided the school’s purchase of two EPro 8 kits. Providing students with various online resources, the EPro 8 kits allow the students to engage in tasks that vary in difficulty levels. Students can use the kits to bring their ideas and imagination to life by practising using components and electronics.
Rachel Weinberg, the Principal of Ngakuru Primary School, describes the positive impact on the school’s learning experience, explaining how it has integrated technology and engineering into its learning units each term, providing a holistic learning experience. As a result, students have become more confident and competent in design and engineering tasks, working collaboratively to solve problems and creating things from scratch.
Incorporating learnings whilst preparing teams for the interschool EPro 8 competition, Ngakuru School has future aspirations to continue building up their students’ skills and confidence in using the EPro 8 kits and to continue entering at least two teams into the EPro 8 Challenge each year.
Over 25,000 New Zealand students participate in the EPro 8 Challenge every year. Students participate in a series of events: firstly within their school and then inter-school. These events are designed to promote science, engineering and problem-solving. All competitors use the kits at the competitions, and these have been more recently available for schools to purchase. The school has had success in the past, placing in the semi-finals and finals.