A practice of 'monozukuri' education featuring "rescue robots production" in an elementary school

Abstract

The problem of avoidance of science and technology learning is one of the big issues for education in Japan. Part of the problem might arise from the lack of experiences of so-called "monozukuri" or engineering design activities at elementary school levels. Hands on class room activities for elementary schools are developed including the followings. 1)Visual contents including robots in the real world, earthquake disasters, and robots engaging in rescue missions, 2)Using the same kind of body frame of the vehicle robot, four different types of prototype cars are prepared, which enable pupils to find the difference of the effect of gear-ratio, 3)Small cardboard parts called "parts card" for each component of the robot which enables pupils to develop their design by manipulating and placing the card to the body frame, 4)Mechanical models varying from simple to complex, multi-link structures. The results of the pre-post questionnaire shows that over 70% of pupils have positive feelings to "monozukuri" and shows 10% increase. The parts card facilitates design resulting that almost all design requires only minor modification. The image map method is used, the numbers of the concepts are increased by four points and its quality is improved. One of the objectives of this project is to enhance empathy; the ability to relate well to others. We examined the designs of pupils and found that a variety of equipments are added for disaster victims. © 2011 The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.