inspiring the PRESENT so that we can
advance in the FUTURE.
the Mission San Jose Elementary Robotics Initiative
We are pleased to offer our experience and expertise in robotics to form and train robotics teams at MSJE, and provide them mentoring to help MSJE students excel at robotics. The program is open to qualified 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. Our free workshops will compress 6-8 weeks of extensive learning content in 4 to 6 intense 3 hour sessions, adapting pace to students’ background. Some sessions will entail substantial follow-up work by students. The expectation is that by midway through this camp, the team will increasingly take on the initiative for their own project, and our role will transition from teaching to mentoring the team, towards creating their own robot designs, building and programming their own robot, brainstorming pros and cons of their design ideas and functioning as a team on their own.
Tentative curriculum:
In order to enroll, we recommend that the students have the interest and aptitude for Math/Science, Creative Thinking and Problem Solving, Computing and Mechanical design, Teamwork and Communication. The workshops will challenge and stretch these skills.
Tentative curriculum:
- Session 1: Introduction to LEGO Mindstorms, build basic robot
- Session 2: Introduction to programming.
- Session 3: Introduce sample challenge, brainstorming, build field.
- Session 4: Team brainstorms and strategizes on their own, divide work.
- Session 5: Start implementing ideas for mechanical design, and program.
- Session 6: Discuss improvements, presentation.
In order to enroll, we recommend that the students have the interest and aptitude for Math/Science, Creative Thinking and Problem Solving, Computing and Mechanical design, Teamwork and Communication. The workshops will challenge and stretch these skills.
What is FIRST Lego League Robotics?
“It’s a competitive sport. It’s a life experience. It’s opportunity. It’s amazing.” According to F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology ,http://www.usfirst.org/) , “FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®) introduces young people, ages 9 to 14 (grades 4-8), to the fun and excitement of science and technology while building self-confidence, knowledge, and valuable career and life skills. FLL challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers. Alongside adult Mentors, FLL teams solve problems using engineering concepts, presentation techniques, and robots.”
FLL Teams, of 4 to 10 students,
FLL Teams, of 4 to 10 students,
- Apply math and science concepts to research, design, build, and program autonomous robots
- Gain hands-on experience solving real-world problems
- Learn from and interact with adult Mentors
- Work as a group to overcome obstacles and meet challenges
About MSJE Robotics Initiative
The objective of this initiative is develop opportunities for MSJE students, for teams to shine as leaders in FIRST Robotics, and to ignite the spark of innovation in the young minds of MSJE students through the acclaimed program of FIRST Robotics, the awesome “Sport for the Mind”. FIRST Robotics is an outstanding learning opportunity, that integrates computer programming and mechanical design of the robot, with teamwork and communication skills and wraps it all into a competitive game – robot game. Students get so immersed in the game, in the competition, in the fun that they don’t even realize that their brains are learning so much about science and technology.