Chalmers University of Technology
The Teknikåttan competition wants to increase children's interest in and curiosity about technology, science and math - and now more people will open their eyes.
- This year we have renewed and improved, and the long-term ambition is for at least 50 percent of all classes in the eighth grade to register, says Emma Frisk, Department for communication and learning in science, and national coordinator for Teknikåttan.
Teknikåttan is a nationwide collaboration between eleven different universities. It aims to increase interest in technology, mathematics, and science in society, but above all to stimulate students' imagination, creativity and ingenuity and strengthen their self-confidence.
Since the start in 1993, the interest in participating has increased from year to year and today Teknikåttan is found throughout the country.
- The competition is much appreciated but has basically looked the same since the start. This year we have therefore produced a film where the questions are asked. We want to show with it that technology and science exist in our environment in many different contexts and can be very fun at the same time as it is important.
Cooperation with the business community
In this year's competition, they have collaborated with the Technical Museum and Volvo CE and hoping this will link the issues to technical applications in a good way.
- We want to show that there are alternative paths to knowledge, says Emma Frisk. By relating to everyday technology and by applying new perspectives on scientific phenomena, students are attracted to give wise answers to tricky problems. This also strengthens students' confidence in their own common sense.
From the year 2000, all eighth graders in the country have been able to participate in the first part of the competition, and today about 20 percent of them do so as well - something they now want to improve on.
- We have high ambitions, because we think this is very important. We aim for at least half of all eight to hang on!
How does the competition work then?
It all starts with a qualifying competition. The qualifying week takes place as we speak - and ends on Friday 4 February. Those who advance go to a regional competition and then try to go to the national competition and the final there.
In addition to having fun and learning lots of new things at the coup, there is also a SEK 30,000 prize for the winning class.
Are you smarter than an eighth grader?
You can test it yourself on Teknikåttan's website. Here are last year's questions.
More about the competition
Teknikåttan is nationwide and divided into eleven regions, where a college or university in each region is responsible for the competitions and for contacts with the country's eighth graders and their teachers. In Västra Götaland, Chalmers is the responsible university.
Here you can look further if you are curious! (link to the T8 website). Here you can also see the film during week 6.
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