Robotics at Somtawin

Post by **terry+carmen** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:45 am

Somtawin will add Robotics to the curriculum in October. Unfortunately this cannot be added to the existing eleven IGCSE subjects already taught but the Robots will be entered in the International Schools competition later this year. The winning school in Thailand will take part in the final in India next year.

Great opportunity for the students to design, assemble and program six Robots for everyday tasks. Wonder if they can make a cleaning or car washing Robot.

Does anyone know of a LOCAL company/manufacturer using Robotics here in Hua Hin or Cha Am that the students could visit for idea's? Is that too far advanced for Hua Hin?

Post by **bigideas** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 10:16 pm

Very interesting topic,
My 8 year old boy is excellent at building mechanised motorised machines from Meccano.
We buy these sets. See link http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/product ... model-set/

He started with Lego at age 5, and when he completely exhausted everything we moved onto Meccano.

He cannot do electronics but he knows alot about building moving machines.
He goes to Somtawin School (the Thai side).

Might he be considered for the team?

Post by JD » Sun Oct 03, 2010 10:43 am

This is a big event for schools in Thailand, nearly every school takes part. It starts on a local school level, with the winners going on to a district event then on to a Provincial final to see which team/school will represent the Province in the finals in Bangkok.

This years finals were only six weeks ago, our boy was on the team that represented Prachuapkirikhan Province in the finals in Bangkok, he attends Hua Hin School.

The finals are over one day. In the morning each school has to build their robots from scratch (no taking along your pre-assembled robot). Then in the afternoon they have a series of tasks to complete ending in a robot wars style event where robots battle each other.

Post by **E-Dork** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:04 pm

Big Ideas said...

He goes to Somtawin School (the Thai side).

Sorry off topic I know but just curious.... I am assuming you are farang so your child will either be farang or Luuk Krung (sp) so why on earth would he be in a Thai school. Sorry if I misunderstood something.

Post by **bigideas** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 2:48 pm

Yes it's a matter of misunderstanding.
When I say "My 8 year old boy", it doesn't mean my 8 year old son, it means the 8 year old son of my wife, to which I am guardian, who chooses to attend Somtawin (Thai side) because he likes it there!
My daughter likes Yamsaard School and so she goes there!

Hope this answers your queries.... Life is often alittle more complicated than people like to assume!

Post by **Procyon** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 5:52 pm

E-Dork wrote: Sorry off topic I know but just curious.... I am assuming you are farang so your child will either be farang or Luuk Krung (sp) so why on earth would he be in a Thai school.

Bit of a stupid statement that ... perhaps not everyone with "luuk krungs" can afford 100k+ per year for an "English school", especially if they have several kids.

Post by **terry+carmen** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:36 pm

Who pays 100k+ for an English School, average fees at Somtawin are 89k with big discounts for siblings.
It's not always the fees, it's the standard of education and the child's future.

I would like my child to have the option of going to a UK university she can do that if she attends Somtawin. Its a choice every parent has to make.

Back on topic...........no one locally using Robotics?

Post by **Procyon** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:47 pm

terry+carmen wrote:Who pays 100k+ for an English School, average fees at Somtawin are 89k with big discounts for siblings.
It's not always the fees, it's the standard of education and the child's future.

OK, 89k +books, +uniforms, +transport, +food, +trips, +extras etc etc etc is well over 100k.

I agree that the education must come first but my point was that not everyone with luuk krungs can afford these fees with several children which is why some of them will go to Thai schools and the poster above was ignorant to make such generalizations.

Ok, yes, back to robotics.

Post by **JimmyGreaves** » Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:23 am

Procyon wrote:
terry+carmen wrote:Who pays 100k+ for an English School, average fees at Somtawin are 89k with big discounts for siblings.
It's not always the fees, it's the standard of education and the child's future.
OK, 89k +books, +uniforms, +transport, +food, +trips, +extras etc etc etc is well over 100k.

I agree that the education must come first but my point was that not everyone with luuk krungs can afford these fees with several children which is why some of them will go to Thai schools and the poster above was ignorant to make such generalizations.

Ok, yes, back to robotics.

Well said!

Post by **nanyang** » Wed Oct 06, 2010 8:05 am

[quote="terry+carmen"]I would like my child to have the option of going to a UK university she can do that if she attends Somtawin. Its a choice every parent has to make.
quote]

Slightly off topic I admit, but your statement stirred me enough to ask;

I assume that you're aware of the fees involved for an 'overseas' student to attend a UK uni?

Post by **kitechick** » Wed Oct 06, 2010 1:45 pm

I happen to agree with Nanyand and yes this is not on topic but

Any child who attends an "English program" and graduates year 12 with a Ministry of Thai education certificate or for that matter attends a full international School and takes IGCSE exams will therefore become an international applicant when applying to there home universities.
Which will require payment of tuition fees.

So what ever why you look at it if your child is western your going to pay big bucks for your kids education if you want your child to return home to go to Uni or even attend some of the top universities here.

Sorry I Know off topic and I don't know anything about Robotics either.

Post by **E-Dork** » Wed Oct 06, 2010 4:15 pm

not everyone with luuk krungs can afford these fees with several children which is why some of them will go to Thai schools and the poster above was ignorant to make such generalizations.

So why the bloody hell are you having children in the first place if you can't cobble together enough money for them to have a decent education..... are you thick or what????

Ignorant !!!! A childs well being is the most important factor you should be thinking about before you have one. Sticking 'em in a Thai school I'm afraid is just unbelievable you pathetic Cheap Charlie. Lousy excuse of a parent if this applies to you I'm afraid!!!!! Yes I mean you Jimmy Greaves and you Proycyon.

Post by **JimmyGreaves** » Wed Oct 06, 2010 8:45 pm

E-Dork wrote:
not everyone with luuk krungs can afford these fees with several children which is why some of them will go to Thai schools and the poster above was ignorant to make such generalizations.
So why the bloody hell are you having children in the first place if you can't cobble together enough money for them to have a decent education..... are you thick or what????

Ignorant !!!! A childs well being is the most important factor you should be thinking about before you have one. Sticking 'em in a Thai school I'm afraid is just unbelievable you pathetic Cheap Charlie. Lousy excuse of a parent if this applies to you I'm afraid!!!!! Yes I mean you Jimmy Greaves and you Proycyon.

A person considered to be foolish or socially inept! Yes You Queer Fella......

Post by **Procyon** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 1:05 pm

E-Dork wrote: So why the bloody hell are you having children in the first place if you can't cobble together enough money for them to have a decent education..... are you thick or what????

Looks like I've touched a nerve with E-dick over there.

Who said I have children anyway?

So, according to you, only the financially stable and affluent should have kids?

Your ignorance and stupidity has just been reaffirmed by your idiotic playground response, looks like you're the one in need of an education.

Post by **terry+carmen** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 4:00 pm

Well off topic however, I am well aware that international students pay full TUITION FEES at UK universities, lets say about 12k a year. A UK resident pays about a third of that about 4K. For a UK resident the minimum requirement for university entry is 5 IGCSE and 3 A levels but each course and university is different. International Students are treated differently because they pay full fees and entry requirements are minimal.

I hope my daughter will sit at lease 8 IGCSE at Somtawin and go to a UK college for A Levels, part of her time in UK will count towards UK residency. She holds a UK passport and needs three years to re-qualify.

We are well aware of the costs and problems with education in Thailand but we were prepared for that before we decided to make our home here.

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