By Kayla Bruch

A new twist on Lego comes to P.A.

Jan 13, 2015 | 11:03 AM

Lego has been around for a long time, but a Prince Albert education centre is taking a new approach to an old favourite.

On Monday night, Sylvan Learning Centre hosted its first-ever robotics program, where children built with Lego while using a computer program as a guide.

Aron McInnes brought his five-year-old son Aiden to the program and helped him build.

“Aiden has a real like for Lego and so this was something that we thought would take it to the next step, he likes to be challenged, likes to learn new things, so it’s just a natural fit,” said McInnes.

McInnes said the Lego nowadays is very different compared to the Lego he had as a kid.

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“Lots of kids are already working with Legos but this just kind of takes it to the next level and gets them thinking about what you can do even more then what you already are and just advancing their interest in technology,” said assistant administrator for Sylvan, Theresa Smith.

Devon Vansil, 10, said he really enjoys putting together Lego formations.  

“I like Lego because Lego is fun because you put a bunch of pieces together and it’s almost like making an actual robot,” he said.

Vansil said if there was time at the end of the session he planned to build a cross-eyed bird.

Smith said Robotics is part of Sylvan’s new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs which include robotics, coding a new style of math. She said STEM helps grow student’s interest in these subjects.

“This robotics program is actually very cool especially with the way that the world’s been going in a more technological kind of advancement and so it’s teaching kids at a younger age the importance of computers and building and just different mechanics,” she said.

“It gets them kind of hands-on and really engaged in doing it but it’s not too overwhelming where they don’t really want to continue. We try and make it really fun.”

The three-week program will run every Monday and Smith said robotics is open to any and all students.

“It’s a good way to create friendships we get to compare the kids and they have to work together to kind of reach a goal and build this robot and brainstorm together and get everything to work,” said Smith.

This week’s session saw four kids working away to create a flying bird.

“This one’s teaching us kind of about levers and kinetic energy. Next week we’re going to be building a drumming monkey and it teaches you more about how the motor works and how the computer programming can actually make a robot move without you having to do anything,” said Smith.

Sylvan will be offering another robotics session in February.

kbruch@panow.com

On Twitter: @KaylaBruch1