JAMAICA takes a spectacular leap into the arena of international robotics competition when the local finals of this year’s World Robotics Olympiad — set to be held in Thailand — unfolds tomorrow at The University of the West Indies, Mona, St Andrew.

Twenty teams, comprising 80 participants drawn from preparatory, primary and high schools, will vie for the two positions which Jamaica has been allotted in the World Olympiad, which will bring unusual spotlight to the island.

Jamaica has entered teams in the Olympiad previously, but the hosting of the first finals here is seen by the local organising body, Halls of Learning, as a major coup for the country after only 15 years of top competition.

“This is a definitive move to level the playing field for Jamaica and put our country on the map as a contender in robotics competition,” said Marvin Hall, founder and head of Halls of Learning.

Hall, regarded as a brilliant mathematics teacher, has made Halls of Learning into the leading provider of robotics and coding experience for children, at a time when few Jamaicans knew what robotics was all about.

“A robot has a body, a brain and behaviour. Any (non-human) thing that checks all three is a robot. Robots also have sensors — light sensor, ultrasonic sensor and ultimately senses its environment,” Hall explained.

“An ATM (automated teller machine), for example, is a robot. It has a brain which allows it to process a set of instructions to carry out certain transactions, including dispensing the required cash,” said Hall.

He suggested that children were usually drawn to robotics, which has proven to be an interesting way of engaging them in science, engineering, technology, mathematics, and design.

“It forces children to do critical thinking on several levels, which is what 21st century skills are about,” he said.

Hall, a board member of the newly launched Fairfield International Academy in Montego Bay, St James, described himself as a reluctant student who, although he eventually became a top math teacher, did not discover his true self until he engaged technology and specifically robotics, “which was a really interesting way to learn”.

He started teaching robotics twice a week and on Saturdays and coached his first team at the American International School of Kingston in 2002 and a year later took his first team of three boys to compete in Melbourne, Florida.

His work has attracted attention and support from some of the top players in world robotics, culminating in the decision to have Halls of Learning host the first Jamaica finals of the World Robotics Olympiad, which takes place in Thailand from November 16 to 18, 2018.

Partnering with Halls of Learning to bring the finals to Jamaica at a cost of US$75,000 or J$10.2 million, are: Seprod Foundation, presenting sponsor; New Fortress Energy, gold sponsor; Mail-pac.com, silver sponsor; and Mayberry Investment, bronze sponsor.

The Mona School of Engineering, UWI is collaborating with Halls of Learning in staging a robotics football demonstration for participants.