Through a collaboration with PepsiCo and BrainCo, San Miguel Academy 8th graders recently completed a robotics project using NeuroMaker HAND kits to build and program prosthetic hands. PepsiCo and BrainCo also provided curriculum materials, instructor training, and support throughout the project.
BrainCo’s NeuroMaker HAND project is inspired by real-world prosthetic products. The project is designed to develop industry-specific skills and awareness by offering students exciting and immersive experiences in biomedical innovations, mechanical and electrical engineering, programming, and artificial intelligence.
The NeuroMaker HAND project aligns with San Miguel Academy’s STEAM-focused curriculum. Students worked in pairs to assemble over 130 pieces, creating a functional robotic hand. They then tested their hand models and engaged in friendly competitions for the accuracy and strength of their hand’s grip. Students also researched the growing field of prosthetics, exploring biomedical uses, engineering designs, and AI technology in prosthetics.
San Miguel Academy science teacher Effiong Eyo:
NeuroMaker HAND significantly enhances students’ learning experiences, providing an exciting hands-on project for students to see the practical applications of science concepts in solving real-world problems. Additionally, it promotes teamwork, patience, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills as students work through the various materials and steps required to complete the complex task of building a functional prosthetic hand prototype.
San Miguel Academy is grateful to Pepsico and BrainCo for supporting our interactive STEAM-focused approach that actively promotes career-ready skill development. The development of career-ready skills for the 21st-century marketplace is at the core of our curriculum and central to our mission to break the cycle of poverty through education.
