Scottsdale Community College Takes Robotics Program ‘To the Club’
~ Local Boys & Girls Club Members Learn Problem Solving and Teamwork Skills through SCC’s Robotics Mentoring Program ~
Scottsdale, AZ (October 9, 2008) – SCC took its robotics program on the road for six weeks this summer – to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale where six students from the college’s engineering and math programs served as mentors to the club’s 9 and 10-year old youth.
The first few weeks of the program were structured in order to teach the basics. Later, the kids had an opportunity for freeform activity with their robots. According to Bill Johnson, SCC Math instructor and coordinator of the mentoring program, the kids really caught on to the robotics concept.
“Kids were programming movements after the second week,” he said. “And the ones that caught on quick started teaching the other ones.”
To introduce club members to the basics of robotics, SCC’s mentors began by playing Simon Says. When asked to turn to the right, the kids turned to the right as instructed. The kids who kept turning without stopping, however, were the first to understand the nature of the robot: without further programming, they would continue to turn. Through the game, the kids learned that robots will only do what they are programmed to do, and it was up to them to make them do it.
The program encourages the kids to design and build their own robots after working with kits. They often enjoyed adding parts to their robots – claws, arms, and gear of all types, and they would decorate and assemble their robots into various configurations. “They ended up looking very interesting,” said Johnson.
One of SCC’s student mentors, Danni Eriksson, taught the kids the basics of robotics, including the programming, using Lego Mindstorm robots.
“I volunteered because I wanted to get younger children interested in robotics -- and with that engineering,” she said. “I was especially interested in reaching out to younger girls because they are underrepresented in the engineering field.” Eriksson is currently a student at Embry-Riddle University majoring in Aeronautical Engineering
During the course of the program, the kids did two demonstrations – one called Mr. Claws, which showed that their robots had a pat h and programmed movements. The next demo showed how they could move the robot – forward, backward, turn, and spin. Sensors were also tested with a sharp clap of the hands. Ultrasonics were then tested by placing objects in the path of the robot to see how it would navigate a certain path as a result of avoiding the object.
The program culminated in what Johnson refers to as the robicitals -- the final, exciting, edge-of-your-seat competition between teams of kids.
According to Johnson, the robotics program teaches kids to build and design robots to accomplish different missions. “They learn to sharpen their problem solving skills in a systematic fashion,” he said. “The program provides an introduction to thinking about math and science.”
The kids learn teamwork, and with practice become good at building, programming, and strategizing--skills they will strengthen and ultimately use in a variety of areas as they get older. According to Johnson, through robotics the kids learn to analyze and compare, strategize on their missions, build the robot—including the driving base and various gadgets, test the robot, present it to their peers and mentors, and then defend the solution they have programmed.
“I think that the children learned that they can make things happen,” said Eriksson. “They got a chance to be creative and they were very proud when they saw that what they planned worked as expected - and that they were the brains behind it.”
The kids learn to solve problems in steps: identify the goal, the givens, and the background information (what is known) – then set up and test the solution (the robot). Johnson explained that the objective is to help the kids learn how to solve problems.
“We tell them - here’s your challenge, and here’s what you’re given (the robot), and we ask them how they can use different designs to solve problems.” According to Johnson, the goal is arriving at the correct solution. “’Does the answer make sense?’ If they master that, they’ll be a ways ahead in problem solving.”
Mentors kept logs of their daily activities. They learned from what was done the first time to apply to the upcoming program. SCC students who volunteer for the robotics program at the Boys & Girls Club receive one credit tuition free. Johnson is currently looking for additional student mentors for the upcoming program.
Mentors like Eriksson end up getting as much out of the experience as the kids.
“We once had a race between two robots. We divided the children into two teams and they got the challenge to program their robot to go through the obstacle course as quickly as possible,” she said. “They got really in to it and it definitely made my day to see them so excited.”
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About Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale Community College offers over 1,500 academic and non-credit classes each semester. Located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the campus is known for its serene atmosphere and beautiful plant and wildlife. With nearly 12,000 students, Scottsdale Community College is proud to offer high-quality, affordable programs in small class settings. From Motion Picture/Television Production and Culinary Arts to Nursing and American Indian Studies, students have a wide variety of programs from which to earn credits for university transfer, launch their careers, train for new ones, or pursue a special interest. The SCC Business Institute offers customized programs to meet the needs of local business. Scottsdale Community College is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges.
To learn about the many academic programs at Scottsdale Community College, call us at (480) 423-6000 or visit our website at www.scottsdalecc.edu.
Media contact:
Denise Kronsteiner
(480) 423-6567
denise.kronsteiner@sccmail.maricopa.edu
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