Colombian schools are committed to promoting training in science, technology and mathematics

At the Santa Francisca Romana School, located in Bogotá, Colombia, a competition emerged that focused on the nearly 800 participants from across the country who gathered at the event, turning the place into a pinnacle of innovation and applied technology. These were the Inn Genius Challenge and Pachas Bot, two meetings that gained importance for their cross-institutional approach and commitment to promoting STEM skills among young people.

These events, organized by the famous educational institution popularly known as Las Pacha, It seeks not only to highlight academic skills among participants, but also to foster an environment of collaboration and mutual learning.. According to what he published the timeMaria del Rosario Concha, Dean of Santa Francisca Romana School, emphasized the importance of these meetings in stimulating the development of critical skills for the future. Recognizing the growing need for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competencies in the professional field, these challenges represent an invaluable opportunity to prepare children and adolescents to face the challenges ahead.

But beyond the competition, the university president highlighted the added value of these events: enhancing the spirit of cooperation among students. Far from being just competitions, the Inn Genius Challenge and Pachas Bot They represent platforms for socialization, mutual support, and the creation of synergies between STEM learning and social and emotional skill development.. This combination, according to the university president, is necessary to apply these skills in daily life.

The third edition of the Inn Genius Challenge brought together 222 students from 34 educational centres, facing challenges designed to foster creativity and innovation. From creative use of recycled materials to provide birds with food and water, to developing technological tools to combat bullying, the challenges varied according to the ages of the participants. Leonardo Pinzon, leader of the Inn Genius Challenge, stressed the importance of a collaborative approach Students from different institutions came together in search of creative solutions to real problems. The proposals presented, which included mobile applications and artificial intelligence, demonstrated the enormous potential of these young innovators.

On the other hand, the second edition of Pachas Bot brought together more than 600 students from 63 schools. Under the guidance of their teachers, participants tested their knowledge of robotics, as well as their mathematical, engineering and computational thinking skills. The challenges addressed ranged from programming robots to overcome physical obstacles to creating complex machines.This trick aims to complicate simple actions through chain reactions, as explained in detail by Lucio Chavez, Head of Technology and Innovation at Las Pachas.

These events are distinguished not only by their reach and enthusiastic student participation, but also by their innovative approach to STEM skills training. Combining competition, collaboration, and hands-on learning, the Inn Genius Challenge and Pachas Bot were created It represents a step forward in preparing young people for the requirements of the future.

The implementation of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)-based education is shown as a An innovative response to the growing demand for specialists in scientific and technological fields. This educational model promotes contemporary learning techniques that emphasize collaborative work, hands-on experience and fostering creativity from an early age.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) methodology offers an interdisciplinary approach to solving specific real-world problems, thus promoting integrated knowledge construction. The primary goal is to prepare new generations to face the challenges of the future of work., as the need for highly qualified professionals in these areas of knowledge is expected to increase. This approach seeks not only to meet the demand for experts in the scientific and technological sector, but also to encourage innovation and the development of new professions.

To achieve these goals, STEM education encourages curiosity about scientific and technological learning from an early age, drawing on active learning dynamics.. This is a paradigm change in teaching method, which goes beyond traditional classrooms and brings students closer to real situations where they can apply their knowledge. The hope is that by fostering these skills from childhood, a generation of leaders will be formed who are able to meet the challenges of the 21st century with resourcefulness and creativity.