Arduino is the beginning of all robotics: tomorrow's programmers learn at ASS and GSS

Painting is now only done in art lessons at the Albert Schweitzer School, and pupils do not design posters to illustrate presentations, but rather a Power Point presentation. And because the school has been strengthening its focus on computer science in addition to sports and natural sciences for several years now, everyone in the fifth grade takes the computer driving license. There they learn simple Office applications, can create and save documents and manage their school account. Those who then want to learn more about computers and applied computer science can make the Junior Engineering Academy their compulsory elective subject instead of Performing Arts.

Two hours a week and during the annual project week, programmed solutions are sought for practical problems. One group is currently working on the question of how a chip card can be used to open the school's bicycle cellar, another is working on an app to record the school's ecological footprint - for the time being - and a third is testing in an indoor garden how irrigation and LED lighting should ideally be programmed so that plants grow without unpredictable nature. "That might sound a bit nerdy," explains Lea Wendisch. She teaches mathematics and computer science and supervises the Junior Engineering Academy. "But it's also fun," Kevin completes the sentence. He likes the fact that the school and teachers support ideas and implementation one hundred percent. The 12th grader is interested in object-oriented programming and application technology, which is why he has already been to the Hasso Plattner Institute with the "MINT-EC" and learned "how to create innovations". To explain: the Albert Schweitzer School has been part of the nationwide Cluster of Excellence in Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences and Technology since 2017. "We are also the only school in Offenbach with an advanced course in computer science," says Dr. Said Afilal, mathematics teacher and representative of the school management.

The focus is also well received by the students; Nicoleta is in year 10 and is proud that "the school is going along with it and promoting technology". She thinks that computers and programming are only for boys is "total nonsense". Word has got around that girls think differently to boys and that this is good for team building and problem solving. That's why four boys and four girls are currently working together on the app, indoor garden and chip card. "The gender issue is becoming less and less important; on the contrary, girls often work in a more determined and structured way, which is good for the processes," says Wendisch. The fact that she sometimes does not have an answer to all technical questions and that some programming may not lead to the desired result at first is not a problem. After all, it's all about asking the right questions and failure is simply part of the development process. But you can't give up, says Nicoleta, "ambition is part of it."
If no more suggestions can be found on the Internet, the school's cooperation partners sometimes help. There is now a large network and an intensive exchange with other schools, universities and companies, for example, the pupils of the Junior Engineer Academy recently got to know humanoid robots at the Frankfurt University of Applied Science. "Programming something like this is quite a challenge," says the student. "After all, there are many factors that prevent a Lego robot from moving in a straight line as planned."

Pupils at the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule are also working with the EV3 robot from Lego. Sebastian Pasch teaches geography, mathematics and sport and, as the comprehensive school's IT officer, is also responsible for the robotics club together with his colleague Christian Volp. Thanks to Pasch's personal passion for the subject, there are now a total of four robots, but Pasch, Volp and their colleagues are not yet as far along as they are at the Albert Schweitzer School. "We are working on a concept, everyone knows about the great technical possibilities that are available in the classroom and we are looking at how funds can be used sensibly." The aim is for all pupils to eventually work with e-books instead of books, as is currently being tried out as a pilot project in the current 5th grade. There is also a workshop in Year 7 and the opportunity to choose computer science as a compulsory elective subject in Year 8. The robotics club is the first offer for anyone interested in practical programming. Pupils build small robots and use the Arduino computer syntax to teach them how to transport an object with a gripper arm or use sensors to avoid obstacles, for example. That's not enough for sixteen-year-old Moinamin. He translated a video game as a child, he says, and later wants to do more than just program Lego Mindstorm robots. His career aspirations are therefore already clear: he wants to become a CEO in mechanical engineering or a computer scientist, and school should accompany and support him on his way.

Incidentally, the "World Robot Olympiad" regional competition will take place in the Albert Schweitzer School gymnasium on May 16, and guests and interested parties are very welcome to attend.