Making Technology
Accessible
Jacki M.
In 2003, together with partners, trainees at the Training Center in Lemförde developed the training robot „Jacki M.“, named after its creators. It was initially designed for use in vocational schools, primarily for occupations requiring training such as mechatronics, machining and information science. Whether it is a matter of assembly, programming, experimentation or modification, Jacki M. is almost uni-versally applicable as a learning tool.
Learning from a robot
The great potential of the robot for general school education soon became apparent. In cooperation with the Training Center, dedicated educators from various types of school developed customized teaching concepts. Their conclusion: Jacki M. is applicable for instruction from elementary school through to graduation from secondary school.
An example: Elementary school teachers developed a series of stations dealing with different subjects, where grade 4 students gain hands-on experience with the fundamentals of robotics, work on models, and finally acquire a “robot operating license”.
The fascination of Jacki M.
Colleges have also recognized the potential of the training robot. For instance, the University of Applied Sciences Lausitz has used Jacki M. since 2008. The robot came to the attention of the Information technology/Electrical engineering/Mechanical engineering department at Ideen Expo (Ideas exhibition) 2007 in Hannover. In Lausitz, the robot travels in a bus as part of a new project, “Science on Tour”, as an example of the interaction of mechanics, electronics and computer technology.
Jacki M. is now also used internationally: In May 2007, the non-profit organization ZF Helps donated eight robots to the Technical Education Development Center (TEDC) of the Indonesian Ministry of Education. Here Jacki M. is a decisive element in the training of mechatronic technicians at vocational school.
