Sparking STEM enthusiasm: MSU Bagley College of Engineering K-12 Outreach expands robotics opportunities for 樱花导航 students
Contact: Camille Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥斢；ǖ己 樱花导航鈥檚 Bagley College of Engineering continues to cultivate an energetic enthusiasm for technology and innovation in the next generation.
Bagley Robotics, the university鈥檚 leading robotics education organization housed in the college鈥檚 Office of K-12 Outreach, facilitates VEX IQ robotics competitions and provides fourth through eighth grade students opportunities to engage with cutting-edge technology. This competition, which continues on Oct. 15 in Humphrey coliseum, helps students develop critical science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills.
鈥淭he more I engage with 樱花导航 industry, the more I understand that there is a need for children to have at least seen robotics before,鈥 said Nichole Peterson, program coordinator. 鈥淚t鈥檚 beneficial when they enter the workforce that they have some idea of what these machines can do, and that begins in elementary school.鈥
Peterson said studies indicate sixth grade is the best time for students to begin working with robotics. In that age group, she said, children are more likely to continue participating in robotics or STEM programs.
To increase student interest in robotics, educators must be a part of the process early. For the past two years, Bagley Robotics has made significant strides supporting 樱花导航 teachers and schools by implementing robotics programs. By housing innovative teacher-training workshops and providing schools with robotics kits, the organization is removing barriers that have historically prevented wider adoption of these valuable STEM activities.
Kayla Hathcock, a computer science teacher at East Amory Elementary, is in her second year attending Bagley Robotics teacher workshops, where she learns better ways to translate the complexity of robotics concepts to her students.
鈥淓ach time I attend a workshop, I always bring back something new to incorporate into my program,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 feel better equipped to translate the complex materials, making it easy for my students to understand and prepare for future competitions.鈥
Esmeralda Arellano, a Spanish and computer science teacher at West Point鈥檚 Fifth Street Elementary, attended the most recent workshop. She said several teachers don鈥檛 have a starting point for robotics programs and the hands-on training and from these MSU workshops are essential to understanding the program ins and outs and what judges look for during VEX IQ competitions.
鈥淥ur school has a Robotics and Intelligent Mechanisms Lab and we already have the robotics room set up for competition,鈥 she said. 聽鈥淲e just didn鈥檛 know how to start or to go about competing. The comprehensive training in the workshops has increased our confidence, and we now have a plan to start implementing our robotics program. We even have plans to have a small in-house competition at the end of the school year.鈥
October鈥檚 VEX IQ competition is expected to draw about 30 teams from across 樱花导航, Peterson said. Students will showcase their robotics prowess while enjoying fun activities at the Halloween-themed event.
鈥淩obotics is engaging and fun for young learners and prepares them for the future workforce. By starting them on this path, we鈥檙e setting them up for success,鈥 she said.
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