The 2023 Steam project benefited 40 Atlantis youth with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (Steam) extra curriculum education. The learning interventions included, but were not limited to Entry Level Electronics; Introduction to Programming; Physical Computing; Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Grade 8 learners.
The Steam project provided hands-on learning opportunities that promote creativity, motivate discovery, and increase knowledge retention.
ASEZCo appointed CPUT as an implementing partner of the project. CPUT conducted Saturday Steam sessions at two of the five schools in Atlantis from September 2023 until March 2024. ASEZCo spent R466 000 in the project.
There is a dire shortage of science labs and equipment in local schools at Atlantis.
The University hosted the learners at the CPUT science labs to expose them to well-equipped labs for further hands-on learning and for the learners to use the technology to develop their projects. On 15 March 2024 the project hosted a Steam competition where the leaners had to solve a specific challenge through building a robot that was able to race.
The winning team won several prizes. The project has four groups (one team has 10 members)
The project objectives of the Steam interventions are to:. Challenge learners to think critically;. Motivate learners to be attracted to Steam careers, and develop strong work ethics;. Enable learners to integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge to solve problems;. Promote a learn-by-doing approach;. Enable learners to participate in real-world projects; . Give an opportunity to basic education learners to learn from each other, across different schools, while taking an active role in the development of emerging technology and groundbreaking research; and. Make Steam attractive to basic education learners, so that the learners can continue doing Steam until Matric.
