Robotics clubs growing in local schools

them beyond high school into the work force. The Kingsland school district started their club in 2011. The team is known as the TEKnights and is affiliated with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization that works to create and nurture interest in STEM for kids from kindergarten through 12th grade. The TEKnights are in the 7th-12th grade division which is called FIRST Tech Challenge. Fifteen students are participating in the club this year.

Another FIRST affiliated club is run at Fillmore Central for students from 4th-8th grade in the LEGO League division. The club, called Team Trial and Error, is in its third year. Stuart Weist has been the coach for the last two years. "I enjoy watching the kids learn," he said. Unlike the Tech Challenge division of FIRST which requires a minimum of 10 participants per team, LEGO League is restricted to just 10 members. Despite the differences in the age group divisions, the overall goals remain the same. "The goal of FIRST is to teach kids how to work together for a common purpose," Weist explained. The philosophies of FIRST are Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition, a word which was coined to explain how teams should show kindness and cooperation with each other while competing. At competitions, teams are awarded points not just for their robot building, coding, and operating skills, but for how they treat their fellow competitors.

http://fillmorecountyjournal.com/robotics-clubs-growing-in-local-schools/