Building STEM Competence and Confidence with Robotics

In today�s technology-rich society, access to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs for students is more important than ever. STEM competence and confidence creates pathways to well-paying jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities in the fastest-growing fields. Many educators, mentors and parents of middle and high school students use robotics programs as a vehicle to increase student exposure and access to developing STEM principles.

The FIRST Tech Challenge Jump Start program introduces students in grades 7-12 to robotics and challenges them to build and program a robot designed to compete against other teams in a floor game. Jump Start teams get a head start on learning robot building and programming techniques months ahead of the competition season, which kicks off in September each year.

With this extra time, educators and mentors can use FIRST Tech Challenge Jump Start to build students� STEM competence and confidence in the following ways.

Introduce students to STEM principles and get comfortable with robot building tools and techniques

Starting with a kit of robot parts, students experience the entire engineering design process from brainstorming to prototyping, and more. As they build the robot from the ground up, students apply STEM principles while learning the major systems of the robot, exploring computer-aided design, and practicing prototyping.

Image from graphicsbuzz.com

In project-based challenges, students are encouraged to come up with creative solutions to problems, even if the first solution doesn�t work. It�s about preparing kids for a world in which, sometimes, we fail, so that they�re ready to pick themselves back up and try again.

Help students build self-confidence and digital literacy skills

STEM engagement programs aren�t just about building robots. Student participants cultivate 21^st Century skills that serve them long after the robot has been built, helping them become the next generation of innovators, technology leaders, and creative problem solvers.  

The majority of student participants in FIRST Tech Challenge engage in key STEM activities on the team and experience a number of positive outcomes:

Access free curriculum to strengthen students� programming and engineering skills

Student robotics teams can explore multiple technologies and methodologies including CAD; 3D printing; Java, C++, LabVIEW, Google Blockly, LEGO MINDSTORMS Ev3, or LEGO WeDo 2.0 coding; Android app development; basic mechanics, electronics, and control theory; Internet research; and website design. Students brainstorm, design, strategize, prototype, iterate, build, test, and evaluate their solution, which, depending on the program, could be a unique robot or simple motorized machine.

FIRST Tech Challenge offers free curriculum that can be used to get teams started � or used as a full, two-semester robotics, programming, and engineering course.

This Schoology formatted course walks you through all aspects of getting started and competing. It is a great tool used by educators and mentors to guide instruction.

Encourage students to explore team roles and collaboration

There are many roles for students on a robotics team, from technical robot building to communications and marketing.

Some technical roles include being on the build team, which is responsible for the mechanical operations, or the programming team, which writes the code that operates the robot. Students can also work with the robot drive team on problems and possible solutions.

Some non-technical roles include marketing, fundraising, and recruiting in the school and local community.

Students on Jump Start teams gain valuable time to collaborate on all aspects of the robot building and programming process. This extra time can be used for brainstorming and idea sharing, and students are encouraged to learn and teach each other the different principles along the way.  

Offer students the chance to compete in the 2018/2019 FIRST Tech Challenge season

With FIRST Tech Challenge Jump Start, teams have the unique opportunity to develop their STEM competence and confidence outside of the regular competition season. As a Jump Start team, your registration for the 2018/2019 season is included, and your students can put their hard work and STEM skills to the test in the next challenge.

Without the time constraints of an upcoming season, every student on the team can explore the different components of robot building and programming, gaining valuable 21^st Century life skills and self-confidence along the way.

For first-time mentors, the extra time and resources means anyone can start a robotics team.

Join the global community of future innovators, technology leaders, and creative problem solvers.