Robotic Shark – 2023 “Marine Workers Experience Camp” assembly course

The 2023 “Marine Workers Experience Camp” held by the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology is a free winter camp with three echelons on 1/31, 2/1 and 2/2. The robotic fish DIY assembly experience course is one of the highlights, and it is also one of the most experienced courses for students.

The DIY assembly experience lasted about two and a half hours. In the first two hours, the lecturer and the teachers of each team guided and assisted the students in assembling the robotic fish. The age group of the students is very wide, ranging from the second grade of elementary school to the third grade of junior high school.

The robotic fish assembly course mainly focuses on assembling videos. Even students in the lower grades of elementary school can complete the assembly with the assistance of the teacher. At each stage of robotic fish assembly, the concept of each design and the scientific principles behind it are also shared.

Teaching is actually a process of teaching and learning. During this period, I also discovered many innovative ideas of children. For example, a child put the remaining balloon sleeve on the dorsal fin of the robotic shark, and a Christmas robotic fish was born in this way. Some children also found that the mechanical fish can still run smoothly even the parts are installed in the opposite direction on purpose.

In the last half hour, the students took their assembled robotic fish to the underwater robot (ROV) display tank at the marine career base next door for a water test. Let the students enjoy the robotic shark they assembled swim leisurely in the water.

From the photos of the finished assembly results, it can be found that the students showed a kind of joy of DIY hard work and the joy of owning their own robotic fish. The robotic fish is a teaching kit suitable for marine education in elementary and junior high school. Even students in the lower grades of elementary school can complete the assembly with the assistance of parents or teachers. During the assembly process, student can also experience the scientific principles and design concepts behind it, which will be helpful for assembling other scientific kits in the future. At the same time, with the assembled robotic fish and other marine knowledge, students can be guided to have a further understanding and interest in the ocean.