2026-06-12

The Artificial Intelligence Research Center at the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) has partnered with Keliao Elementary School in Ziguan District, Kaohsiung, to establish a Bilingual Smart Robotics Club. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, bilingual education, and STEAM learning, the program is jointly delivered by NUK faculty members and students. Through programming, sensor applications, and scenario-based challenges, elementary school students develop technology literacy, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills through hands-on learning. The program recently concluded with a robotics competition showcasing participants' learning achievements.

Chih-Hung Wu, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Research Center and Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, explained that the center has long been committed to promoting AI and robotics education. By leveraging university expertise and educational resources, the team hopes to provide more children with opportunities to engage with emerging technologies.

Wu noted that bringing the program to Keliao Elementary School was intended not only to cultivate students’ interest in science and technology but also to encourage confidence and motivation through a "big hands guiding little hands" mentoring approach. By learning through exploration and practical experience, students gradually build both technical skills and self-confidence.

Keliao Elementary School Principal Pei-Ling Fang expressed appreciation for NUK’s efforts in bringing high-quality technology education into the elementary school environment. She observed that throughout the program, students progressed from unfamiliarity to confidence, moving from simply operating robots to independently solving technical challenges. Beyond improving technology literacy, the program also strengthened teamwork, communication, and self-directed learning, demonstrating students’ enthusiasm and remarkable potential for growth.

The robotics club was jointly organized by NUK’s Artificial Intelligence Research Center and the Center for Teaching and Learning Development. Under Professor Wu’s guidance, participants learned robot programming and operation using the mBot2 educational robot.

The curriculum combined STEAM education, bilingual instruction, and hands-on project-based learning. Students learned technology-related English vocabulary while exploring concepts such as distance measurement, timing, and mathematical calculations through robot programming. They also gained practical understanding of infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and programming logic, laying the foundation for interdisciplinary learning.

One of the course highlights was a "Mars Exploration" mission-based activity. Students were required to design robot navigation routes based on mission cards, then measure, record, and compare different programming settings to determine whether their robots could successfully complete assigned tasks.

Throughout the process, students continually refined their code and adjusted strategies, experiencing the full cycle of identifying problems, analyzing solutions, testing outcomes, and making improvements. This iterative approach helped cultivate computational thinking, logical reasoning, and collaborative problem-solving skills.

The program concluded with a final robotics competition that transformed classroom learning into practical challenges. Working in teams, students completed creative line-following and maze treasure-hunting tasks. Using infrared sensors to detect pathways and ultrasonic sensors to avoid obstacles and locate designated targets, participants repeatedly tested, discussed, and optimized their robot programs.

Through continuous experimentation and teamwork, students demonstrated creativity, adaptability, and collaborative problem-solving, providing tangible evidence of the learning outcomes achieved through the Smart Robotics Club.

The initiative reflects NUK's commitment to extending university educational resources into local communities while promoting equitable access to emerging technologies. By combining AI, bilingual education, and experiential learning, the program helps prepare younger generations with the technological competencies and critical thinking skills needed for the future.

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