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Lego SPIKE Coding Workshop

Learn to code your own Lego robot with Drax's Community and Education team.

Lego SPIKE Coding Workshop

Drax Power Station provides the most renewable power of any single location in the UK, generating 11% of the UK’s renewable energy or enough electricity to power the equivalent of four million homes.

About the workshop

Drax Power Station's Lego SPIKE coding sessions integrate curriculum-aligned STEM education with LEGO bricks, a programmable multi-port Hub, and coding languages based on Scratch coding. These sessions enable students to delve into subjects like the design process and data science, laying the groundwork for understanding advanced technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Taking inspiration from Drax's latest addition to the maintenance team, Sparky, who is an AI robotic dog; students will discover how Drax employs technology to enhance safety and efficiency in daily operations.

Participants will have the opportunity to construct their own robots and program them to navigate a map of Drax Power Station, executing designated tasks.

Additionally, the session provides an introduction to various career paths within the energy industry, and students will learn about different engineers at Drax Power Station through the accompanying presentation.

Cost and logistics

Designed for groups of 10 to 30 students, this is a free workshop, open to all schools within 20 miles from Drax Power Station.

Schools are given the opportunity to visit Drax Power Station pre-or-post Lego Coding experience and can apply for a bursary from Drax to subsidise travel costs if needed.

Learning outcomes

  • Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects

  • Improve attainment and progress in STEM subjects

  • Learning what the engineering workplace is like

  • Develop engineering employability skills

  • Improve awareness and aspirations for STEM-related study and careers

  • Challenge stereotypes by showing the diversity of disciplines, people and skills involved in engineering

Subjects and topics

    • Computing
    • Engineering
    • Maths
    • Physics
    • Electronics, robotics and programming
    • General engineering

Gatsby benchmarks

The Gatsby benchmarks are a framework for good careers guidance for schools across all of England and in some areas across the rest of the UK. This experience helps your school to reach the following benchmarks:

  • Linking curriculum learning to careers
  • Encounters with employers and employees
  • Experiences of workplaces

Essential skills

The essential skills every young person needs to succeed in education and their future career. Find out more at the Skills Builder Partnership. This experience builds the following skills:

  • Creativity - the use of imagination and the generation of new ideas.

  • Problem solving - the ability to find a solution to a complex situation or challenge.

What the teachers say

We would love to read all about your time with this experience!

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Competition

FIRST Tech Challenge

The UK’s most epic STEM enrichment programme for young people*. We're not building robots, we're building the future.
*as voted by robots

 

  • Ages 11 to 18
  • In-school
  • Multi-session
  • Cost applies Bursaries available
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How to train a computer - Introduction to AI

KS3 students will learn what AI is, why it makes mistakes and how to use it responsibly in this 90-minute workshop.

  • Ages 11 to 14
  • In-school
  • 1 to 2 hours
  • Cost applies
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Trip

Drax Power Station educational visit

Visit Drax Power Station and immerse your students in the fascinating world of energy generation.

  • Ages 11 to 18+
  • Offsite - Drax Power Station, Selby
  • Half a day
  • Free

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