Festo_Bionics4Education_en

The digital learning environment The intelligent modular system is supplemented by a digital lear- ning environment with information material, tutorial videos and animations: helpful hints and practical instructions for the bionically inspired animal robots, along with biological background infor- mation, can be called up at www.bionics4education.com . Insights into the working methods of the Bionic Learning Network team are also provided. The content relating to the bionic projects can be used in interdisciplinary applications. Depending on the learning objective, the emphasis can be placed on creativity, motivation, cooperation, innovation, lateral thinking or problem-solving skills – for the individual learner or in an interdisciplinary team. Open-source knowledge Bionics4Education is based on open educational resources: the entire didactic and information material can be accessed free of charge by lecturers, teachers, training instructors, students or other interested parties. Even the software codes and CAD draw- ings are provided for free download. Entire components can be generated on one’s own 3D printer. School classes, working groups or individual researchers can either launch into bionics with the ready-made kit or organise everything from scratch themselves. Feedback for the further development of this didactic concept is welcomed at all times. Enthusiasm for MINT subjects By its very nature, bionic learning content is interdisciplinary. Bionics4Education can therefore be integrated into the subjects of biology, physics, computer science and technology in everyday school routine, at project days or at individual events. The integral educational concept also serves as orientation for the so-called MINT professions (mathematics, computer science, natural scien- ces, technology): interest and enthusiasm generated among school pupils at an early age make it easier for them to choose suitable training or study courses. Bionics4Education can also make a valuable contribution to existing MINT education programmes. Commitment to education Securing quality and sustainability for educational systems and enabling knowledge transfer is a declared corporate objective of Festo. This is the motivation for the support of numerous pro- grammes – such as the vocational world championship “World- Skills“, the “First ® Lego ® League” competition or the “Festo Education Fund”, which fosters tomorrow’s technological genera- tion. The corporate responsibility of the learning enterprise also extends to the action field of “Technical Education”: from school, through vocational academies to universities, young people are provided with qualification and training and are made fit for their professional routine in dynamic, complex working environments.