Cybernetic Zoo in School

Abstract

Cybernetics emerged in Hungary during the 1950s and 1960s. The cybernetic paradigm also appeared in pedagogy, as educators attempted to utilize the methods of cybernetics in teaching. There was a demand to bring this new science closer to students using visual aids. The first cybernetic animal models, initially created in research and university settings, found followers in Hungarian secondary schools as well. The cybernetic models associated with cybernetic clubs caught the attention of the Hungarian press. These demonstration tools, used for scientific education, were among the early appearances of computational thinking in Hungarian education. The study showcases some prominent Hungarian examples of animal models. Ladybird in Szeged, Mouse in Budapest, and Tortoise in Túrkeve—one university and two secondary school examples illustrate that the predecessors of robotics were not far removed from the people of the 1960s. Educational robots followed in the footsteps of animal models. The development of educational robots was inspired by these animal models and Papert’s LOGO pedagogy. In addition to the robotic bees used in Hungarian schools, custom-designed kits are also produced by participants in robotics competitions. In some cases, direct tributes to early cyberneticists can be observed. Animal models are considered the predecessors of robotics. They still captivate observers today, not only due to their scientific construction but also because of their physical appearance. Resembling living organisms, they were innovative for their time—and remain inspiring even today.