STEM education has become an essential part of modern-day learning, as it prepares students to tackle real-world problems and equips them with the necessary skills to solve them. STEM clubs have been established globally to promote STEM education and provide a platform for students to explore their interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These clubs allow students to participate in competitions, events and other STEM-related activities that help them develop new skills and expand their knowledge.
The success of these clubs depend on the dedication and competence of the coaches who lead them. Becoming a certified STEM club coach or leader requires comprehensive training and understanding of the STEM curriculum and its objectives. The training of coaches is done using the Train-the-Trainer model, which provides participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to become successful coaches.
The first step in becoming a certified STEM club coach is to express interest by filling up a signup sheet.(click here) Once selected, the participant is given specific time and location for the training sessions. The training sessions are arranged based on the availability of the trainers and potential coaches.
The training begins with an online Udemy class, which provides an introduction to the STEMGuyana organization and the rules and objectives of robotics competitions like the International Youth Robotics Competition (IYRC) and the First Global Robotics Challenge (FGC). These competitions are where the STEM club students compete each year, and coaches must understand the rules and objectives to guide their teams.
After the online course, participants attend two in-person sessions, where they are arranged into small teams of at least five persons and assigned a trainer to work with during the training sessions. Participants must demonstrate mastery in building and coding robots to be certified.
For MRT Robotics, specific game rules and guidelines are shared, detailing the categories, instructions on how youths can participate, the platforms being used, restrictions on robot design, and the scoring plan for decision on winners. Coaches are introduced to the engineering design process, which breaks down the step-by-step sequence of identifying a problem that needs to be solved, researching how to resolve the problem, followed by planning and designing robots with functions to match. Coaches are encouraged to utilize this process with their team members in developing their robots.
The MRT-3 robotic kit is presented to the coaches along with the manuals. The main parts are identified, and their functions explained. Coaches are asked to plan and design a robot of their own, using all the information given. Guidance is provided by the manuals and the trainer. Coaches must display competence and understanding in robot building, attend all training sessions, and participate in the activities. Their competency is determined by the trainer.
Upon completing the training, coaches are issued conditional certificates. They must be assigned to a STEM club (leader or volunteer) and work for at least three months before being certified by the IYRC international body. Certification provides coaches with recognition for their competence and qualifies them to train teams for national and international competitions.
Becoming an internationally certified STEM club coach requires dedication, competence, and comprehensive training. Utilizing the Train-the-Trainer model and the MRT Robotics curriculum, coaches gain the necessary knowledge and skills to guide their teams to success. The certification process ensures that coaches are qualified to train teams for national and international competitions and provides recognition for their efforts in promoting STEM education. For more information contact STEMGuyana today!
stemguyana@gmail.com
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