The impetus that distance education systems have taken over the last year opened the possibility of testing alternative models, in order to explore the development of other competencies. For example, the STEM model focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, which are related areas mainly with a profile of a scientific or engineering type.
Applying the aforementioned educational method, PictoBlox, a graphical programming tool designed for children, teaches through a playful and interactive mechanism about artificial intelligence, through the creation of their own games, animations, interactive projects and works with robots.
This initiative arose in India, from the hand of STEMpedia, a Startup dedicated to technology in the educational field. In addition to developing the software we mentioned, they made available a series of online courses, offered for different age ranges, thus making it possible to take advantage of time at home while promoting skills that are projected to continue to be highly demanded in the future.
Without going too far, thanks to the development of artificial intelligence, technologies such as autonomous vehicles, virtual assistants and facial recognition have been promoted. Just as today we can see how these advances are emerging from their emerging stage, it is estimated that the next generations will coexist with fully consolidated advances of this category.
Understanding this landscape, STEMpedia brought PictoBlox AI to life, its graphical programming tool enabled to work on projects with artificial intelligence and machine learning, which uses resources that promise an engaging experience for children, by basing its learning methodology in the execution of projects.
Unlike traditional mechanisms applied to the study and development of AI, as it is an initiative aimed at children, with PictoBlox AI the first approaches to the aforementioned technologies can be generated, through practical applications such as the creation of a face detector, identifying celebrities in an image and recognizing printed texts, among other attractive and stimulating activities.
Currently, STEMpedia is working on adding new features to PictoBlox, such as the ability to learn about development of applications programmed in Python, both graphically and syntax, to get into direct work on the code. Also among the plans of this Indian startup is the implementation of a space for the community of students and educators to share ideas and collaborate online.
The PictoBlox application is currently available for Windows, Mac and Linux. Soon, they will also have a version for mobile devices.
Testimonial from an Introductory Programming Student through PictoBlox
Thanks to initiatives like this, which facilitate hands-on learning for children, STEMpedia has been listed as a pioneer in STEM Education. Since its inception in 2016, its products and services have passed through more than 40 countries, garnering awards and support from organizations in India, the United States and the United Kingdom.
If, together with the technologies that surround it, artificial intelligence has captured a significant level of interest in research and development today, its explosive penetration into our environment allows us to assume that in the future it will be even more present, strongly influencing in areas such as the world of work, service delivery, and social dynamics, to name a few general examples.
If you want to learn more about PictoBlox, you can find additional information on the STEMpedia website.
