There was a great buzz in St Oliver's School last week as pupils got their hands on a colourful and educational robot.

BOOK: Senior Infants at St Oliver's NS, pictured with their teacher Leanna O'Brien (left) and SNA Elaine Murphy (right), one of the winning classes of the Scríobh Leabhair with Foras na Gaeilge, after they compiled a colourful book with Irish themes. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

It was education whilst having fun in Ms O'Brien's Senior Infant class as they got to grips with the new Bee-Bot supplied by Kerry Education Centre who have invested significantly in STEM equipment for primary schools

Bee-Bots are exciting robots designed specifically for use by young children and have become part of modern technology in the classroom. They are bee-like in appearance with a series of buttoned commands, are colourful, and easy-to-operate - essentially the perfect tool for teaching navigation, sequencing, estimation, problem-solving!

The robot enables learning colours, shapes, orientation, alphabet and lots of other skills. An inclusive activity for all abilities where navigation tasks can be simplified and more difficult depending on the circumstances.

Equipped with themed mat which presents 15cm squares, the aim of the game is to get from one area on the map by programming the Bee-Bot with instructions and navigation throughout its journey from A to B.

Team play among pupils, concentration, anticipation and memorisation of programmes are done without realising that they are working on their learning.

"The Bee-Bots have arrived in St Oliver's as part of our Changemaker School project. The goal of the project is to promote children's learning, problem solving and critical thinking skills," teacher Leanna O'Brien told the Killarney Advertiser. "The children love programming the Bee-Bots. It encourages learning in such a fun and interactive way."

Senior Infants were also selected as one of the winning classes for Scríobh Leabhair with Foras na Gaeilge, after they compiled a colourful book with Irish themes including a drawing by each child in the class.