In an effort to foster interest in technology among children, the Manila Bulletin has teamed up with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to offer robotics education to kids aged nine to 12.

The aim of this partnership is to spark curiosity about robotics, explaining how technology can be applied in daily life. The program will expose participants to the fundamental concepts of robotics and help them understand how these principles can be used to solve problems.

This educational initiative will encompass a variety of workshops and seminars led by seasoned educators and industry experts. These workshops will offer a hands-on experience where children will be given opportunities to construct and program robots, enabling them to use the theoretical knowledge they've acquired.

Gen. Reynaldo Rafal, Vice President for Administration of the Manila Bulletin (left) and Asec. Jeffrey Ian C. Dy, Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Upskilling at DICT, sign the memorandum of agreement to offer robotics education to kids aged nine to 12.

"We are thrilled to collaborate with DICT in bringing robotics to children. Our objective is to inspire young individuals to be innovative and creative, to envision beyond their immediate surroundings, and to comprehend the mechanics of technology," said Gen. Reynaldo Rafal, Vice President for Administration of the Manila Bulletin.

The DICT has also shown great enthusiasm for the partnership and affirms that this initiative is a prime way to encourage the use of robotics technology among the younger generation. "We are of the belief that introducing children to robotics at an early age will stimulate their interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This will enhance their critical thinking abilities and nurture creativity, which will be beneficial in their future careers," stated DICT ASec. Jeffrey Ian C. Dy.

"This program will equip children with the requisite skills and knowledge to pursue future careers in robotics and technology, making them more competitive in a rapidly evolving job market," added Asec. Dy, the driving force behind the partnership initiative.

This collaboration between the Manila Bulletin and DICT represents a significant step towards promoting technological literacy among the youth. By receiving proper guidance and education, children can develop a profound interest in robotics and technology, opening up numerous future opportunities for them.

Both the Manila Bulletin and DICT have voiced their intentions to continue the partnership and seek further possibilities to educate children in robotics. Through their combined efforts, they aim to provide more children with access to top-tier robotics education, equipping them for a successful future in the technology sector.

In an exclusive interview with Asec. Jeffrey Ian C. Dy, Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Upskilling at DICT, he discussed the department's strategic move to advance robotics technology for children. The full transcript of the interview is as follows:

Art Samaniego: What inspired the DICT to promote the use of technology through robotics, and what do you hope to achieve through this partnership?

Asec. Jeffrey Dy: We are currently in the 4th Industrial Revolution. The primary economic move for industries in this age is robotics and other combination of physical actuators connected to digital controllers. They are ubiquitous. You can see them in use, from the fabrication of microchips and car manufacturing; to parking spaces and automated toll gates.

It is, therefore, essential that we learn the basics of robotics and automation at a very young age. Using gamification, we are confident that we will be able to teach 9-year-olds the basic skills necessary in robotics, including physics, logic, and programming, using code blocks.

The President, thru our Secretary of DICT, has directed us to ramp up our upskilling and ICT training. Through this program, we aim to address, in the mid-term, the technology skills gap prevalent in our educational system.

Art Samaniego: How will this partnership help to drive innovation in the field of robotics, and what specific initiatives are you planning to undertake to achieve this?

Asec. Jeffrey Dy: We hope to create an awareness that there is a fun way of learning through gamification. By integrating games such as Minecraft and Lego into the learning curriculum, children as young as nine can be taught ICT basics and even create robots. The beauty of this approach is that what the children can build is limited only by the bounds of their creativity and imagination.

For example, our Lego Spike program can be taught in as short as five whole days. However, by combining the physics of levers, gears, and pulleys with sensors and software, children can build self-navigating cars, tractors with automated hands, etc.

Using Minecraft for Education software, children create whole worlds, in-game mythological creatures such as Pegasus, or even artifacts that don't exist in any mythos.

Creativity, combined with technical skills and savvy, is the cornerstone of innovation. Thus, we strongly believe that this program will help drive innovation in the long term.

Art Samaniego: What role do you see the private sector playing in developing and adopting robotics technology in the Philippines, and how will this partnership encourage collaboration between different stakeholders?

Asec. Jeffrey Dy: It would be faster to roll out gamified programs in partnership with the private sector. The private sector is usually more agile and has the resources to assist the government in its endeavors. As we generate awareness and excitement, we expect more affordable tutorial centers using gamified methods in robotics, AI, coding, etc., for people of all ages.

Art Samaniego: What are the potential benefits of teaching robotics technology to kids?

Asec. Jeffrey Dy: By teaching children how to program and to use these for robotics, children are taught how to think logically – either in steps or by blocks based on micro work/task packages.

Logical thinking is the basis of mathematics. Thus, there is a strong relationship between coding/programming and mathematics. Through programming, the mathematical affinity of children improves. Kids who know how to code can see patterns clearer and solve problems faster.

Art Samaniego: How will this partnership help to equip children with the necessary skills to prepare them for the future?

Asec. Jeffrey Dy: Persistence and perseverance in achieving a desired outcome through trial and error is a significant life value. Children as young as nine years old will be presented with various problems they can solve by thematically applying techniques they have been taught and experienced. These problems gradually become more complicated, and solving them will take perseverance and creativity. On the other hand, they will be motivated to solve these issues because the entire course is gamified.

Art Samaniego: How do you plan to measure the success of this partnership, and what metrics will you use to evaluate the impact of your initiatives?

Asec. Jeffrey Dy: We plan to go nationwide with this program and, after a successful rollout, to do a nationwide challenge. Our partner, Nullspace, conducts an international competition in Singapore, and we are planning to send delegates there to compete with other ASEAN countries.

There is also a Lego spike competition sponsored by Lego. Usually, public schools do not compete in these competitions. Perhaps by introducing this program, we can see our public schools participate and even win in these competitions.

Art Samaniego: What are your plans to inform and engage the public about the use of robotics technology?

Asec. Jeffrey Dy: Well, we are hoping that our partners in the media, such as the Manila Bulletin, can help us promote this program. If we also start winning competitions, the public will become more aware of this program.

Art Samaniego: What are your plans for sustaining the momentum of this partnership beyond the initial stage, and how do you plan to scale up your initiatives to reach more children in the future?

Asec. Jeffrey Dy: We hope to engage the private sector in providing similar programs. If we get more demand for these gamified training, we will see more training centers organized by the private sector. We're building the infrastructure of trainers by doing a train-the-trainer, and we will invite our LGUs and DepEd partners to these trainings. It may be too early to say this, but based on people's feedback, perhaps we can propose to DepEd to make this part of their curriculum as part of the "extra-curricular curriculum" or, better yet, as part of the regular curriculum.