Imagine being in elementary school and your teacher tells you that you are now going to learn to construct and program robots. How excited would you be? Multiply that by about one thousand and you'll understand how excited my computer club students are about this learning opportunity!
Our school is suburban with about 40% of our students receiving free or reduced price lunches.
All of our 600 + students come through the computer lab each week from Pre-K through 5th grade. Each of these students are thrilled when it comes to learning anything that has to do with technology. When we began coding two years ago during the Hour Of Code week in December 2013, I decided to start a computer club for interested students. The numbers led to a lengthy waiting list last year and this year. Since we have been learning coding for two years, I have decided to expand into the exciting world of robotics. We are even trying to start a summer robotics camp this year! The students are quite ready and willing, not to mention chomping at the bits.
My Project
If we had an EV3 for our computer club, a whole new world would open up to students who have limited digital resources outside of school as well as to those who have access to multiple devices. Not only will the EV3 be used for computer this school year, but I also have a summer camp in the works for this summer in order to offer this opportunity to more students. We will also continue with computer club next year, but open it up into two semesters in order to reach more students. The future of robotics is fascinating and I want my students to understand that world of possibilities. There is no limit to student ability given the opportunity to experiment, create, discover, fail- and try again. They begin to appreciate and see the process as exciting as the finished result.
The future of robotics is fascinating and I want my students to understand that world of possibilities.
We imagine robots that can go through earthquake rubble and find survivors; robots that can run around and under bridges for inspections that assure safety; tiny robots that could travel through your blood to diagnose or even operate. The world of robotics is truly fascinating and exposure to robotics could inspire students' creativity for the future development of such amazing possibilities.
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