Partnerships in Engineering: A Robotics Challenge Program for Southwestern Virginia

The FIRST™ Lego© League (FLL) program engages upper-elementary and middle school students in an ongoing project that requires problem-solving related to power controls and design while developing research and presentation skills. Major components of CPES’ FLL initiative, are as follows: teacher training through coaching and curriculum development; mentoring, tutoring and career guidance of middle school children by Engineering undergraduate and graduate students; and annual evaluation by teachers, students and mentors. Project activities include development of a series of instructional modules addressing gears, touch, light, and rotational sensors, power, programming, and basic engineering design concepts, which will enable teams and their coaches to extend the eight-week competition season to include pre-season activities focusing on designing and building. These topics also formed the basis for an instructional workshop for coaches and mentors in Fall 2002. Presenters included students and faculty from five different departments within VT, as well as experienced local coaches. Project leaders are also teaming with faculty in Secondary Education, Technology Education and Mechanical Engineering to bring together student service organizations for the purpose of mentorship to teams in southwestern Virginia.