Industrial automation company Jendamark Automation has partnered with independent South African school Woodridge College to develop and equip the Woodridge Innovation and Technology Centre that is focused on readying pupils for a world transformed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

The newly opened centre features the latest 4IR technologies and will give pupils hands-on, practical experience in working with collaborative robots, coding and programming, three-dimensional printing and modelling, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, drone flying and more.

“Exposing pupils to this type of advanced and integrated technology, which is focused on the 4IR, will give them the skills and the competitive edge when entering university or joining the workforce,” says Woodridge College headmaster Derek Bradley.

The equipment and expertise provided by Jendamark would allow the centre to meet the goals the partners had jointly set. Real-life applications are a critical aspect when teaching children about a subject, he emphasised.

Further, while keeping a curriculum up to date with the rapid revolution of the working world was challenging, a focus on skills development was key to navigating change, says Woodridge deputy head for academics Dr Catherine Logie.

“If one has a curriculum which not only focuses on content but also on skills, then the content becomes a means to an end and pupils are able to adapt and learn as environments change. Having partners outside the fields of education gives teachers the opportunity to learn new things and adapt their lessons.

“A tech centre is not just about coding or robotics but is about having a space which is equipped differently from a standard classroom where pupils and teachers can explore parts of the curriculum. Already the Physical Sciences department is looking at how they can utilise the space and some of the equipment for expanding their practical work on motion. The new centre will generate renewed excitement around learning,” she said.

Additionally, it was exciting for the school to be leading this education revolution and expanding its digital programme offering, notes Woodridge Information Technology (IT) department head Nicholas Kock.

“In addition to our IT, computer-aided translation and computer literacy programmes that we currently offer in our existing computer labs, the new centre allows us to implement 4IR technologies and twenty-first-century skills,” he notes.

These skills included problem-solving, computational thinking, awareness of the social and ethical issues around technology as well as its responsible use.

“Our pupils are extremely fortunate that we have partnered with Jendamark, as this is an organisation that is using the latest technology in their production lines and in their research and development,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jendamark decided to partner with Woodridge College as they shared the view that learning should take place through practical experience, not just classroom theory, Jendamark operations director Siegfried Lokotsch says.

“We have a passion for education and have a long-term vision to provide relevant learning and ed-tech to pupils. While there is a rise in demand from parents for schools to offer robotics and programming, we also realised that they do not really understand what it is all about. Therefore, we are also trying to educate parents and children about the real-world relevance and possibilities of 4IR,” he highlights.

Additionally, if the Woodridge pilot proved to be a success, Jendamark hoped to replicate the model in the future.

Further, in addition to providing on-going technology support and regular equipment upgrades, Jendamark will facilitate tours of its manufacturing plant where it builds and exports high-tech automotive component assembly systems.

Here, pupils will see the real-world, industrial applications of what they are learning in action and be inspired to explore possible career options, such as engineering or software development.

Jendamark’s ODIN technology team will collaborate on the curriculum offered to ensure that it remains relevant to the needs of industry, Lokotsch says.

The initiative is in line with the strategic plan for the school which was commissioned some 18 months ago, says Woodridge Trust chairperson Andrea Puggia.

“Two key strategic goals that emerged from this plan were the need to provide a relevant curriculum that produces innovative problem solvers, and to ensure Woodridge has the infrastructure to meet the strategic needs of the school.

“This project embodies both goals and it is most gratifying to see the strategic plan being integrated into the fabric of the school,” she says.