Robotic Workshops FAQ's

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How many participants can you take in a session?
A. The best school group size is 12-24, but can do up to 36 in one session. School session prices are capped at 28. If you have more than 28 in a session it costs $10 extra per participant. For other types of bookings, see WORKSHOPS or last FAQ question for more about pricing.

Q. How many sessions can you run in a day?
A. Usually, I run 3 sessions in a day, either side of a school's usual recess and lunch breaks, but some schools squeeze in four a day. It can be the same class for every session, but usually schools like to involve as many kids as possible. Occasionally, I will do a single session in a day, but you get better value for money if you can book me for at least two sessions.
A lot of schools have booked me for two consecutive days and many have hired me for a whole week, teaching a different class or age-group each day.

Q. What ages suit your sessions
A. I have run school sessions from Kinder up to Year 12. Everyone seems to respond well to Robot Man, no matter what their age! I have developed a number of activities that can be adapted to suit any age. The majority of schools that hire me tend to be from Grade 3 to Year 8. I have actually been a full-time classroom teacher from Grade 1 up to Year 12, so I really can pitch to any age.
Parties can be any age! Too old? Rubbish. There's something awesome about a room full of grown men who are self-confessed nerds, battling their bots in a sumo ring!

Q.What is the best amount of time for each session
A.
School-aged participants:
For the youngest children (Kinder-Grade 1) I often do 45-60 minute sessions, (although sometimes up to 90 minutes, for grades Prep/1)) For older students (Grade 2-10) I have run workshops anywhere from 60 -100 minutes. Sessions involving my Lego kits (Mindstorms and Spike Prime) always need at least 80 minutes. Ideally, for the older students, 90 minutes is the best.

Parties (and some other groups) usually go for 2 hours + break times. Read more...
Professional Learning for teachers, usually up to 90 minutes per session, but I am open to suggestion! Read more...

Q. What sort of robots do you have?
A. I have a class set of Dash, Cubelets, Lego EV3 and Lego Spike Prime. My most recent purchases were a class set of Sphero Indi and also Tale-Bot Pros. So I have 6 different robots I can use. Usually one set each session. Sometimes two sets in a session.

Q. What time will you start?
A. Any time you want. Regardless of the type of workshop, I will arrive when it suits you.
Often I arrive at schools about an hour before starting with the students. So I usually get asked to arrive between 8.00 and 9.00a.m.
For Vacation Care it is usually better to start workshops after 10:00 a.m.
Any time is fine for a party/other or home-schoolers

Q. What does the host need to provide?
A. Just an indoor space. At schools, I have run workshops in classrooms, multipurpose rooms, gymnasiums and libraries. My activities tend to run better by utilising floor space rather than desks. A normal classroom is ok. Carpet or no carpet is fine.
It is much easier if I can have the same space all day, because I bring a lot of equipment!
If you have an available TV or projector then that’s great, but I can set up my own if needed. I also have a good selection of cables and adapters. If you have a table/desk for my TV that would be appreciated.

I do not need computers or internet access. Any coding the students do will be on iPads that I provide. All robots are battery operated and fully charged.

For other types of bookings, it's pretty much the same deal. I have done parties in lounge-rooms, dining rooms, hall foyers, churches, sheds and community halls...even shopping centres!

Q. How do I book or make an enquiry?
A. Visit my website www.robotman.com.au and click on the “workshops” link
or phone 0457 933 097.

Q. How and when do I pay?
Schools/Vacation Care:
A. For schools and holiday care, I will invoice the organisation on the day that I visit. A deposit is not needed, beforehand. I ask to be paid within 30 days of my visit.

All other bookings: I'd like payment anytime before I leave the workshop. Either cash or bank deposit or card tap (using "Square").

Some people want to be invoiced before the event; that is fine, too. But for most, they pay after the workshops have taken place.

Q. How can I check which dates are available?
A. See my "Availability" Calendar HERE

Q. Do you do Teaching Staff Professional Learning?
A. Yes. There are two types of PL available.
1. If a teacher attends a workshop with the students I offer a PL certificate for that teacher at no extra cost.

2. I have often been invited to attend a staff meeting to run a PL. I have a motivating visual presentation, followed by some hands-on robotics. Suits the novice and expert, alike. You can decide if you want demonstration or participation... or both! They usually run from 60-90 minutes. See more here.

Q. Where are you based?
A. I live near Hobart but I travel all over Tassie and sometimes visit Victoria however; last five trips I planned to Victoria were cancelled due to Covid -19, and I don't really have a desire to go back, at this stage.

Q. Do you have a WWVP card?
A. Yes. I have a current Working with Vulnerable People Card and a current National Criminal Check.

Q. Are you a teacher?
A. Yes. I have full teacher registration in Tasmania and Victoria.

Q. Do you have liability insurance? (Certificate of Currency)
A. Yes. Although it's a very safe activity, and I have never even gone close to making a claim, some organisations seem to require me to have coverage so I am covered with a 20 million dollar general liability and products liability policy.

Q. Is it safe?
A. Sure is.
All the equipment participants use is battery operated. Most of the time participants are sitting inside, on the floor. My TV, laptop and anything else I use to present the workshops have all been tested and tagged, But participants don't even touch that stuff.

I provide a risk assessment plan, liability insurance and WWVP card every time I am booked. Along with a completed External Service Providers form, (for government schools).

Q. What do we need to provide?
A. Just an indoor space and a powerpoint socket for me to plug my TV into. Carpet or no carpet is fine. I bring everything else. No internet or devices needed. I will bring my iPads if coding is involved.

Q. How much do you charge?
A. It depends on the type of workshop you want. Prices are on each booking form: School & Vacation Care Workshops, Teacher PL's, Home Schoolers, Parties/Other

Q. How awesome is it?
A. Brilliant! See testimonials from schools here
There are also quite a few reviews on Facebook and Google.