STEM GRANT: HeartBeats to Engineering (Day 3)
Event Description
Introduction to Robotics is an engaging educational workshop designed to introduce children to the fundamentals of robotics, electronics, and embedded systems through interactive and hands-on learning experiences. The workshop provides participants with an opportunity to explore how robots perceive and interact with their environment using sensors, electronic components, and programmable devices. By combining theoretical concepts with practical demonstrations, the session encourages curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving while highlighting the role of engineering and technology in addressing real-world challenges.
Activity Description
The session began with an integration activity that encouraged participants to collaborate and communicate effectively in small groups. This was followed by a brief review of the electronic circuit developed during the previous workshop, reinforcing the fundamental concepts of circuit design and component connections.
Participants then assembled a new electronic circuit using a micro board, an LED display, and an infrared sensor. After building the circuit, they explored how each component functioned and interacted within the system through guided experimentation. The program was subsequently uploaded to an ESP32 development board, allowing participants to perform real-life testing and observe the circuit operating in a practical environment. This hands-on experience enabled children to better understand the relationship between hardware, programming, and system functionality while strengthening their teamwork and problem-solving skills.
The workshop concluded with an introductory chess session, where participants learned the basic rules, the movement of the different pieces, and fundamental strategies of the game. This activity promoted logical thinking, concentration, and decision-making in an enjoyable and interactive setting.
At the end of the session, certificates of participation were presented to all participants in recognition of their engagement and successful completion of the workshop.
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Speakers
Youssef Gharbi of IEEE – Faculty of Sciences of Sfax
Hands-on Electronic Circuit Design using ESP32 and Infrared Sensor
Youssef Gharbi guided the participants throughout the practical activity by introducing the different electronic components and assisting them in assembling a new circuit using a microcontroller board, an LED display, and an infrared sensor. He explained the role of each component and supported the participants during the experimentation phase to help them understand how the elements interacted within the system. Youssef Gharbi also supervised the programming stage by helping the participants upload the code to the ESP32 development board and perform real-life testing to observe the system’s functionality in practice.
Through this hands-on guidance, Youssef Gharbi contributed to enhancing the participants’ understanding of the connection between hardware components and programming logic while encouraging teamwork, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Biography:
Youssef Gharbi is a Computer Science undergraduate student at the Faculty of Sciences of Sfax and an active IEEE volunteer. He currently serves as the Chair of the IEEE RAS FSS Student Branch Chapter, where he contributes to the organization of technical activities, workshops, and engineering initiatives focused on promoting innovation and STEM education.
Passionate about robotics, embedded systems, and industrial electronics, Youssef actively works to share his knowledge and encourage young learners to explore the fields of technology and engineering. Through his leadership and involvement in various technical projects, he is committed to inspiring the next generation of engineers and fostering a culture of creativity, curiosity, and innovation.
Email:
Address:Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, , Sfax, Tunisia
Agenda
DAY 3:
Time: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
09:30 – 09:50 | Opening & Team Integration
- Welcome and introduction to the session
- Ice-breaking and small group collaboration activity
- Overview of workshop objectives
09:50 – 10:15 | Review of Previous Electronic Circuit
- Recap of the circuit developed in the previous workshop
- Discussion of fundamental circuit design concepts
- Review of component connections and system structure
- Interactive Q&A
10:15 – 10:30 | Break
10:30 – 11:15 | Electronics & ESP32 – Theoretical Introduction
- Introduction to the micro board (ESP32)
- Presentation of the LED display and infrared sensor
- Explanation of component roles and interactions
- Understanding hardware–software integration
11:15 – 12:00 | Hands-on Circuit Assembly & Programming
- Building the electronic circuit
- Connecting the micro board, LED display, and infrared sensor
- Uploading the program to the ESP32 development board
- Real-life testing and guided experimentation
- Troubleshooting and system validation
12:00 – 12:20 | Introduction to Chess – Logic & Strategy
- Basic chess rules
- Movement of the pieces
- Fundamental strategies and logical thinking exercises
- Short interactive practice
12:20 – 12:30 | Reflection & Certificate Ceremony
- Participants share observations and key learnings
- Discussion on teamwork and problem-solving
- Certificate distribution and closing remarks