At the National Fab student challenge, three higher secondary schools were recognized for coming up with innovative prototypes. 12 schools from across the country participated in the challenge. They have developed prototypes to employ state-of-the-art technology such as 3D printing, and woodworking among others to create practical teaching tools in the classrooms.
Ugyen Academy stood first for developing a prototype that makes learning mathematics easy. The team won a cash prize of Nu 30,000 and hopes to create more such prototypes in the future so that every student can use them.
“It is like a game which can be used as a learning aid to simplify the topic, quadratic functions. Through this prototype we hope to change the mindsets of the students who find this topic complicated,” said Eden Lucky Tshomo, a student from Ugyen Academy.
And Samtse Higher Secondary School, involved in the development of a haemodialyzer model to teach students about kidney functions in schools came second winning Nu 20,000.
“Our model is life-sized and we have many cross-pollination between subjects so that students can connect one subject to another and they can learn better. 90 per cent of students learn more through interactive learning,” said Tenzin Kheldrup, a student from Samtse HSS.
Bjishong Higher Secondary School took the third prize of Nu 10,000 for making a device that measures the height of an object.
“Our prototype is about measuring the height of an object using various technical components. Our prototype aids in further simplifying the concepts of trigonometry and ICT codes. Our prototype will help in enhancing the student’s learning experience in subjects like math and ICT as they will get to interact with such technologies making the classes more fun and engaging,” said Ngarsel Kinley Yeedzin, a student from Bjishong HSS.
The Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck Super FabLab and the Ministry of Education and Skills Development organised the challenge to make students understand the importance of digital fabrication in driving the transformation of the country’s economy.
Tshering Deki
Edited by Phub Gyem
