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February - May 2026 • Schotlandstraat 38

Ban Hisa Nos STEM:

Teacher Training

Empower your students by starting a robotics club at your school. This teacher training program equips you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to design and run a successful robotics program. Discover and explore practical strategies for teaching robotics.

Register BELOW

About the program

For the past three years, Aruba has participated in the FIRST Global Challenge with a national robotics team, coordinated by The STEM Embassy. These students were selected through The STEM Embassy’s hackathons, where they received a robot kit and learned how to build, program, and compete with a robot, within just a few days.

While this intensive model has been successful, the Ban Hisa Nos STEM: Introduciendo Robotics Clubs na Scol program has been created to bridge an important gap: giving students the opportunity to learn robotics throughout the entire academic year, guided by trained teachers in their own schools.

Our goal

Our goal is to create year-round access to robotics education, empower students with real-world STEM skills, and give them the confidence to compete on a global stage.

By equipping teachers with the right tools, training, and support, we can ensure robotics education in Aruba is sustainable, scalable, and impactful, but we need your help to make this a reality!

The Program

PHASE 1

Teacher Training & Introduction to XRP

Intro to XRP

The program begins by introducing you, the teacher, to the XRP robot and the experiential robotics platform used throughout the program.

XRP is an open-robotics platform designed to support anyone’s first steps in:

  • Engineering

  • Robotics

  • Software development

Teacher Training

During this phase, you will complete an in-depth teacher training, gaining hands-on experience with the robot, the curriculum, and classroom-ready activities. No prior experience in robotics or coding is needed; we will teach you everything from the ground up.

Mini Competition

The first phase concludes with a mini competition, where participating teachers compete against each other to apply and showcase the skills they’ve developed.

PHASE 2

Pilot Curriculum in Your School

After completing the training, you will begin testing the pilot curriculum with your own students.

This phase allows you to explore what works best in your school context, whether by:

  • Starting a robotics club

  • Integrating robotics into a series of lessons

  • Or combining both approaches

Your experience during this phase is essential in shaping the future of the program. We, as The STEM Embassy, will support you in tailoring the curriculum to best fit your school and provide guidance whenever needed.

PHASE 3

Feedback & Program Refinement

Feedback is a core part of the Robotics Teacher Program. We will actively gather input from both teachers and students to refine the curriculum, resources, and structure.

This ensures the program is ready for full implementation in the following academic year.

PHASE 4

Full Implementation & Competition Pathway

In the final phase, teachers will run robotics clubs or classroom lessons on a regular basis within their schools.

Students will:

  • Work in teams of 3–5

  • Deepen their understanding of the XRP platform

  • Prepare to compete in The STEM Embassy’s hackathons

The winning student teams and their teacher(s) will get the chance to represent Aruba at the FIRST Global Challenge, one of the world’s largest international robotics competitions.

Join the Program

  • The program consists of a combination of in-person and online sessions.

    • During in-person sessions, you will work through the robotics units together with fellow teachers.

    • Online Q&A sessions provide space to ask questions, troubleshoot challenges, and receive guidance while implementing the curriculum.

    • A mini challenge and final competition are included to track progress and celebrate learning, while having fun!

  • The schedule is subject to change. Attendance at all in-person sessions is strongly encouraged.

    Saturday, 21 February (Mandatory)
    Kick-off Session with The STEM Embassy present in person
    1:30 PM – 4:30 PM

    Wednesday, 25 February
    In-person Session with fellow teachers
    6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

    Saturday, 28 February
    Online Q&A Session with The STEM Embassy
    10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

    Saturday, 7 March (Mandatory)
    Online Q&A Session with The STEM Embassy
    10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

    Saturday, 14 March
    Online Q&A Session with The STEM Embassy
    10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

    Thursday, 19 March

    In-person Session with fellow teachers and The STEM Embassy

    6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

    Saturday, 21 March (Mandatory)
    Mini Challenge with The STEM Embassy in person
    10:30 AM – 1:30 PM

    Saturday, 28 March (Mandatory)
    Online Q&A Session with The STEM Embassy
    10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

    Thursday, 2 April
    In-person Session with fellow teachers
    6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

    Saturday, 4 April
    Online Q&A Session with The STEM Embassy
    10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

    Saturday, 11 April
    Online Q&A Session with The STEM Embassy
    10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

    Saturday, 18 April
    Online Q&A Session with The STEM Embassy
    10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

    Monday, 20 April (Mandatory)
    In-person Session with fellow teachers and The STEM Embassy
    6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

    Saturday, 25 April
    Online/In-Person Q&A Session with The STEM Embassy
    1:30 PM – 4:30 PM

    Saturday, 2 May (Mandatory) (DATE TO BE CONFIRMED)
    Final Competition
    Time: To be announced

  • TBA

  • We will have 20 spots available for this first edition of the Robotics Teacher Program, where priority will be given to high school teachers. Additional participants will be considered based on available supplies.

  • Free – Covers Phase 1 as described above. Phases 2, 3, and 4 will be planned on a case-by-case basis with interested teachers accordingly.

    • 1 XRP robot kit and required supplies

    • Snacks during in-person sessions

  • English, Dutch, and Papiamento

    • Laptop or computer (NOT TABLET)

    • Water bottle

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Robotics Teacher Program is designed for high school teachers who are interested in introducing robotics at their school. No prior experience in robotics, programming, or engineering is required. Priority will be given to high school teachers, though if additional spots are left, other types of teachers will not be denied, though they should keep in mind that the program was designed with high school teachers in mind.

  • No. This program starts from the basics and is specifically designed for teachers who are new to robotics. All training, materials, and support are provided.

  • The program runs from February to May 2026 and includes:

    • Scheduled in-person sessions

    • Online Q&A sessions

    • A mini challenge and a final competition

    Teachers are encouraged to attend all sessions, but the program is structured to be manageable alongside regular teaching responsibilities.

  • Attendance at in-person sessions is strongly encouraged, as these are hands-on and collaborative. Online Q&A sessions provide flexibility and additional support. A minimum number of mandatory sessions have been indicated in the schedule above, where participation is required to ensure successful completion of the program.

  • Participants will receive:

    • An XRP robot kit and required supplies

    • Access to the pilot curriculum

    • Ongoing guidance from The STEM Embassy

    • Snacks during in-person sessions

  • Yes. After completing the initial training, you will test the curriculum with your own students, either by starting a robotics club or integrating robotics into classroom lessons

  • The curriculum is designed for high school students of all levels (EPB, MAVO, HAVO, VWO, and other programs) and can be adapted to different educational levels depending on your students’ experience.

  • Yes. One of the program’s goals is to prepare student teams to compete in The STEM Embassy’s hackathons.
    Winning teams and their teacher(s) may earn the opportunity to compete at the FIRST Global Challenge and other international competitions.

  • Instruction and support are available in English, Dutch, and Papiamento.

  • In-person sessions are held at the Futura Office, Schotlandstraat 38, unless otherwise communicated. (TBC)

  • No. Participation is free.

  • Spots are limited to ensure hands-on support. We have 20 spots available for teachers. If needed, additional availability will be confirmed after the registration has closed.

  • You can register through the registration form on this page. Once registered, you will receive further details and next steps via email

  • You can reach out to us with your question at info@thestemembassy.com