Sphero Robot Football

Sphero Robot Football, a coding and robotic learning solutions via an app-enabled robotic ball,introduces children to football and STEAM learning through hands-on-football-based coding and maths games.

Sphero Robot Football makes undeniably cool, programmable robots and STEAM -based educational tools that transform the way children:learn,create and invent through coding,science,music and the arts. Further more, Sphero Robot football gives children an opportunity to explore and enjoy STEAM learning through a transformational approach which builds confidence and understanding of critical STEAM skills inspired via football and play. The Sphero Robots ignite a passion and encourage a play based learning experience focusing on 21st century skills,no matter what subject or career children wish to pursue in the future. With only a bluetooth connection needed between the Sphero Robot and programmable device to implement the learning experience, the Sphero Robot Football programme tackles the global wi-fi concerns for digital learning and educational access in developing parts of the world. 

The world is facing unprecedented challenges-social, economic and environmental-driven by accelerating globalization and a faster rate of technological developments. At the same time, those forces are providing us with a myriad of new opportunities for human advancement. The future is uncertain and we can not predict it: but we need to be open and ready for it.The children entering education in 2018 will be young adults in 2030.Schools can prepare them for jobs that have not yet been created, for technologies that have not yet been invented, to solve problems that have not yet been anticipated. Africa is closely watched as the next big growth market-a description that has persisted for a while. There are many reasons for optimism: the African continent is home to some of the youngest population in the world, it promises to be a major consumer market over the next three decades, and it's increasingly mobile phone-enabled. An emerging digital eco system is particularly crucial as multiplier of that growth, because access to smart phones and other devices enhance consumer information,networking,job-creating resources, and even financial inclusion. Despite these reasons for optimism, the promise remains unfulfilled. 

Many communities that we serve have limitations in almost every area of modinization.These limitations are not limited to only education and the classroom in which teachers and learners exercise their duties but also other aspects of human endeavors. Scholarly approaches embraced by educators in the quest to evolve knowledge, especially those whose basis arises from the Science and Mathematics, have generated considerable improvement over the years. These approaches beget a pattern aimed at preparing emerging learners with up to date knowledge on how best to solve challenges required of complex yet everyday human life. Sphero Robot football engages children in STEAM learning via the appeal and attraction of the football and the world's greatest game.Children are instantly attached to the large football themed code and soon will be excepting engaging and hands-on robotic skills based on football fundamentals, such as passing, dribbling, and shooting.The entire Sphero Robot Football experience is inspiring by football and all learning is disguised as play and fun,yet developing critical skills to support their future opportunities. The Sphero Robot football program showcases the power of football to create societal change and enable disadvantaged children to access the skills needed to improve their lives and economic development.

VAP as an organization developed a Human Centered Design initiative and  conducted a community participatory workshop in the targeted communities to access the challenges and needs of STEAM. The workshop was attended by teachers, community representatives,children from different schools, representatives of various institutions including both private and public.A community lens highlighted the specific challenges that children from the slum areas face because of lack of digital gadgets that include:computers,smart phones, laptops etc. that hinders their access to the digital learning space, access to jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities.

VIjana Amani Pamoja (VAP) has been working with children from Kiambiu slums and by combining football with interactive and engaging programming activities,children have become Sphero Robot Football masters of 21st century skills.Sphero Robot Football has been engaging children from all background in the game of football fan,but instead feel more comfortable learning and working with technology, the close alignment of football and  analytics opens their minds to the game and  creates a new fan.The all -in- one Sphero Robot Football coding solutions is an engaging and meaningful way to inspire today's youth to pursue critical STEAM skills to develop their own digital intelligence and better prepare them for the future jobs and technology economy. 

Sphero Robot Football makes undeniably cool, programmable robots and STEAM -based educational tools that transform the way children:learn,create and invent through coding,science,music and the arts.Further more,Sphero Robot football gives children an opportunity to explore and enjoy STEAM learning through a transformational approach which builds confidence and understanding of critical STEAM skills inspired via football and play.The Sphero Robots ignite a passion and encourage a play based learning experience focusing on 21st century skills,no matter what subject or career children wish to pursue in the future.With only a bluetooth connection needed between the Sphero Robot and programmable device to implement the learning experience,the Sphero Robot Football programme tackles the global wi-fi concerns for digital learning and educational access in developing parts of the world. 

At the moment Sphero Robot Football is serving 300 children in one community of Kiambiu slums.The success of this application will enable Sphero Robot Football project to reach out to 1,000 children from across various communities of Nairobi with total of 10 coaches being trained as Sphero Robot Fotball Agents.

The Sphero football bundle provides 15 Sphero BOLT robots,via the Sphero BOLT power pack, which enables 30 students learning at one time via the Sphero Robot Football curriculum. The mobility of the Sphero Football bundle, enables the equipment to be moved and used at various locations or remain at one venue and engage hundreds of children per month/year (30 per day x 5 days=150 children per week/600 children per month/7200 children per year-if unique participants engage in the activity everyday).The Sphero Robot Football will offer 3-4 hours of engaging learning each day, which will result in nearly 1000 hours of STEAM learning each year, inspired through football and robotics. A total of 10 coaches will be trained via training of trainers workshop

Periodically, Sphero Robot Football participants are subjected to conducting Continuous Assessment Test (CAT) as part of the examination to determine their knowledge gain. The examination is conducted in both theories and practicals.

VAP has been experiencing lack of adequate financial support that would enable the project to scale up in other communities, train more Sphero football Robots coaches and build the capacity of the existing coaches as well as providing them with technical support as they execute the project. Additionally, lack of enough technical training of football drills that combine football and education (STEAM).Alot of awareness of how sports/football is being used to spur social and economic development in the communities is really needed not only by charity organizations but also public institutions.

VAP coaches are former graduates of VAP's programs who have gone through a training of trainers workshop and are ready to execute programs to the youth of the communities that they also grew up in. These coaches are local football heroes and act as community role model status to the program participants and the general community. These coaches play a critical role in the human centered design workshops together with the program participants as their input is very critical in shaping and designing a suitable program that incorporates the views of all stakeholders including community members.

Vijana Amani Pamoja (VAP) has been partnering with various local schools and community centres as a recruitment site for program participants. However, we have been in talks with various digital companies who could provide technical support for the project.

Vijana Amani Pamoja (VAP) has been in the forefront championing the rights of girls and young women.The HP Girls prize will go along way in championing the rights of girls within the Sphero Robot Football project.