As the next generation of learners enters the classroom, teachers and educators are searching for new ways to engage students that are meaningful, interactive and immersive. One way elementary schools in the South Harrison district are doing this is through local robotics clubs.
At Heth-Washington Elementary School, sixth-grade students recently demonstrated at an open house night how the robot they built for their competition season works. The club sponsor, Andrew Yeager, shared how well the team worked together this season and how building this robot encouraged students’ critical thinking skills and creativity to solve problems.
Robotics clubs are relatively new at South Harrison, but within the last few years, all most all elementary schools have established their own club to compete at regional events. Mr. Yeager said the course design and obstacles are new each season and students must work together to build a robot that will navigate the course and its challenges. At the start of each season, clubs spend time learning coding skills, and design principles and researching ideas to use for their robot.
Robotics involves computer science programming and mechanical engineering. It’s highly likely both of these disciplines could appear in these students’ future careers, which is why it’s important to expose kids to these skills as early as possible. Additionally, as students put together the robots, Mr. Yeager said you can see their confidence build and discover a whole new world of science, technology, engineering and math.