I work with unique, talented and curious high school students. Our school is small, with roughly 270 students in grades 9-12, making it possible for me to know each one by name. This leads to the school feeling more like a family than a school, which we all love. It is also a classical high school, part of our county's Choice Program, with emphasis on both arts and academics.
Because we have such a bright and motivated student body, I am always looking for new ways to challenge them.
They love technology and all of its potential, but they will be the first to tell you that they have a lot to learn. Several years ago, we lost funding for our CTE program, so we are trying different things to ensure that they are still prepared for the future.
My Project
My school sets aside several Fridays each semester as "Activity Days." Our students get to choose from a menu of interesting activities prepared for them by our faculty and staff members, and I host a Robotics / Coding group in the media center. I had sixteen students sign up for the group on the last Activity Day, and we all had a blast! Unfortunately, we only had three different kits / stations for them to choose from. As the group grows, our resources need to, as well.
I love seeing the students' ingenuity.
In fact, I have been blown away by what some of the students are able to accomplish during the 70-minute Activity Period. Some of the students even indicated interest in pursuing the field of robotics in the future. This is every educator's dream!
I know that the ERP Pro Bluetooth Robotics Construction Kit would be a valuable addition to this group and to our school as a whole. The group is open to all students, grades 9-12, and we plan to create promotional videos demonstrating completed projects which can then be broadcast to our entire student body to promote robotics and "making" in general. Not only do I hope to challenge and inspire my Robotics / Coding group, but my ultimate goal is to create a culture of making and exploring innovative technology.
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