Robots Everywhere!

The middle school FIRST LEGO League team and the high school FIRST Tech Challenge team are both in full swing. Both teams are hard at work preparing for challenges in December and January. The middle school team is researching way to reduce food spoiling or contamination. Today at practice a student came up with using geothermal refrigerators. The programming experts for FIRST Tech Challenge have shown amazing persistence and are quickly learning programming skills with software used by real engineers.

Colfax-Mingo is able to participate in both of these robotics competitions thanks to a grant from Rockwell Collins, who is a national sponsor for both contests and sponsors rookie Iowa teams. Both of these contests take the math and science content students learn in the classroom and have them apply it to real world challenges. So far, students have used algebra, geometry, biology, physical science, as well as 21st century skills.

I truly enjoy watching the enthusiasm and commitment each team member brings with them to practice. It has been a joy so far to see the light bulb go off for students and them to become excited about their often excellent ideas. Who knew this would be the year of robots?

Note: This Saturday's (10/1) LEGO League practice is canceled due to an FTC conflict.