Monroe School District encourages students to build on technology
Monroe Township School District students “Lego” of their inhibitions about science and technology through participation in a Lego robotics camp this summer.
The Summer Math Lego Robotics Camp took place from Aug. 17 to 20 at Williamstown Middle School from 9 a.m. to noon. About 22 middle school students attended the third annual year of the camp.
Computer technology teacher at Williamstown Middle School Denise Milam headed the camp, which was meant to teach students in grades five through eight the ropes of robotics.
Each year, Milam intentionally enrolls a small number of students at the camp so they can work in groups of two with the eleven Lego robotics kits purchased by the school district through grant funding.
“We tried to make sure that students got as much hands-on experience as possible,” Milam said.
Each team of two students received a kit with a programmable, yellow, index card-size Lego brick with a small screen. Students were taught to build and program the Lego robot through a child-friendly Lego code-writing program on the school’s laptop computers. They learned to write the code by choosing icons that illustrate what each code could make the robot do.
“Lego has technology that makes the programming and engineering aspect of robotics more accessible to the lower grades so it is easier for students to learn the skills,” Milam said.
Through the program students could design their own robot with the kit’s wheels, beams and friction pegs, and choose the robot’s functions. Students could make their robots move, have touch and light sensors, and program the robot to react to sound.
Milam noticed that the robotics project has generated student interest each year in science and technology because of the camp’s fun interactive element. She said when students are challenged, they try to stretch themselves to the next level.
“The kids love to work with robots, and our district wants to see our kids involved with more science, math and technology initiatives that will generate motivation and excitement for student achievement,” Milam said.
During the school year, the kits will be used in the middle school’s math and science classrooms.
In its first few years, the robotics camp was funded through a math and science grant from the New Jersey Department of Education. Currently the district is supporting the program through No Child Left Behind funds.
Once the free camp was advertised to students by sending out over 400 letters, it filled up quickly. Campers were enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Hopefully, over the next few years, we will be able to hold some after-school robotics activities or have two camp sessions next year. It’s hard, because after-school funding is scarce,” Milam said.
On the last day of the camps, students pitted their robots against the clock in a mock undersea challenge with their customized creations.
The challenge required the students to complete certain tasks through their robot, such as picking up a box, following a path, pushing a ball into a net, making turns and backing up.
The challenge was held in the school’s media center on the last day of the camp. Parents and grandparents were invited to attend.
“They really loved it, and their families were amazed at what they could do,” Milam said.
Afterwards students were so enthralled with the robotics project, some stayed behind to fix the aspects of their robot that had not worked in the deep-sea challenge. Milam was impressed with the student’s self-motivation.
“I think that it showed, that with the right technology and time, that kids can be motivated to achieve high results,” she said.
The Summer Math Lego Robotics Camp took place from Aug. 17 to 20 at Williamstown Middle School from 9 a.m. to noon. About 22 middle school students attended the third annual year of the camp.
Computer technology teacher at Williamstown Middle School Denise Milam headed the camp, which was meant to teach students in grades five through eight the ropes of robotics.
Each year, Milam intentionally enrolls a small number of students at the camp so they can work in groups of two with the eleven Lego robotics kits purchased by the school district through grant funding.
“We tried to make sure that students got as much hands-on experience as possible,” Milam said.
Each team of two students received a kit with a programmable, yellow, index card-size Lego brick with a small screen. Students were taught to build and program the Lego robot through a child-friendly Lego code-writing program on the school’s laptop computers. They learned to write the code by choosing icons that illustrate what each code could make the robot do.
“Lego has technology that makes the programming and engineering aspect of robotics more accessible to the lower grades so it is easier for students to learn the skills,” Milam said.
Through the program students could design their own robot with the kit’s wheels, beams and friction pegs, and choose the robot’s functions. Students could make their robots move, have touch and light sensors, and program the robot to react to sound.
Milam noticed that the robotics project has generated student interest each year in science and technology because of the camp’s fun interactive element. She said when students are challenged, they try to stretch themselves to the next level.
“The kids love to work with robots, and our district wants to see our kids involved with more science, math and technology initiatives that will generate motivation and excitement for student achievement,” Milam said.
During the school year, the kits will be used in the middle school’s math and science classrooms.
In its first few years, the robotics camp was funded through a math and science grant from the New Jersey Department of Education. Currently the district is supporting the program through No Child Left Behind funds.
Once the free camp was advertised to students by sending out over 400 letters, it filled up quickly. Campers were enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Hopefully, over the next few years, we will be able to hold some after-school robotics activities or have two camp sessions next year. It’s hard, because after-school funding is scarce,” Milam said.
On the last day of the camps, students pitted their robots against the clock in a mock undersea challenge with their customized creations.
The challenge required the students to complete certain tasks through their robot, such as picking up a box, following a path, pushing a ball into a net, making turns and backing up.
The challenge was held in the school’s media center on the last day of the camp. Parents and grandparents were invited to attend.
“They really loved it, and their families were amazed at what they could do,” Milam said.
Afterwards students were so enthralled with the robotics project, some stayed behind to fix the aspects of their robot that had not worked in the deep-sea challenge. Milam was impressed with the student’s self-motivation.
“I think that it showed, that with the right technology and time, that kids can be motivated to achieve high results,” she said.
