1. Getting Children
into Research
Prof Mamokgethi Setati
Vice Principal: Research and
Innovation
setatrm@unisa.ac.za
2. Why this session?
• The FIRST® LEGO® League
program is designed to show
kids how exciting science,
technology, and engineering
can be.
• Research and problem solving
are integral parts of these fields
and keys to the success of any
real-world engineering team.
3. The FLL Real-World Problem
themes
• 2009 Smart Moves – the
transportation of the world.
• 2010 Body Forward – the trends in
Bio-Medical Engineering.
• 2011 Food Factor – the issues of
food contamination as a world issue
that affects all nations.
• 2012 Senior Solution – how to keep
old people engaged and integrated in
the community in which they live.
6. Why get children
interested in research?
• To satisfy their curiosity.
• To encourage them to think critically
about the problems that they confronted
with
• To Increase their general knowledge and
world knowledge about real-world
issues.
• Prepares them for an academic
environment (post school)
• Helps them with their school work
projects.
• Consider solutions from a ‘young’ mind
perspective – no bias, preconceived,
conformed …
7. Teaching children to do research is
important because
• Core Subjects: Children must learn
beyond the BASICS REQUIRED.
• Learning Skills: they learn to use what
they have learned, e.g. critical thinking,
application and implementation, thinking
of new things, communication and
collaboration.
• 21st Century Tools: they learn how to
use technology to find answers
• 21st Century Context: REAL world …
• 21st Century Content: Discerning and
analyzing the body of knowledge available
