| Course Number: | EDX 5710 S21 |
| Instructor: | Karen & Scott McCalla |
| Location: | Mill River Union HS, North Clarendon, online content completed asynchronously via Google Classroom |
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Dates and Times: |
July 9-September 14, 2024 |
| Credits: | 3 Graduate Credits |
| Tuition: |
$1,977 Tuition includes a Spike Prime EDU set and a Spike Prime Expansion Set |
Want to get kids involved in STEAM learning that’s impactful and fun, but don’t know where to start? In this course educators will develop a plan for implementing Lego Robotics in their classroom, afterschool program or as an extracurricular activity. Course participants will develop a customized plan for implementing a robotics program, while learning all they need to know to mentor students to success and growth. No technical, engineering or coding experience is required for this class. Course registration includes a Lego Spike Prime robotics kit plus a Spike Prime expansion kit, so you’ll have everything you need to start working with students in the fall and beyond. Three in-person meetings will provide ample time for supported exploration and learning, while asynchronous online work will guide participants through creating their own plans for implementation. Leave class with a solid plan for a competition season through FIRST Robotics, or for using your robot kit in an afterschool program or classroom integration.
Audience: Educators working with students aged 9-14 in the classroom, afterschool or in an extracurricular or club
Karen and Scott McCalla have successfully coached competitive Lego robotics for more than 10 years through both community teams and classroom settings. Karen and Scott have reached more than 150 kids with high-quality STEAM experiences through FIRST Robotics, including two trips to the World Championships and two trips to the Legoland International Invitational and one trip to the American Dream Invitational. The 2022 Vermont Teacher of the Year and 2023 FIRST Inspire Educator, Karen is the Teacher Librarian at Mill River Union in North Clarendon. Scott has been named the Vermont FLL Coach of the Year three times and is the FIRST Senior Mentor in Vermont, where he helps to start and support new, growing and established FIRST Robotics teams at all levels. Scott also works with FIRST in Vermont, a non-profit focused on increasing equitable access to high-quality STEAM education for all Vermont students.
Course Goals: Participants will become familiar with building and programming basic Lego robots, understand how to create challenges that support students in learning problem solving and teamwork skills, and build a useful implementation plan tailored to their unique needs. All work for this class is designed to be immediately useful to you - no busywork!
Course Objectives:
I can build an operational basic Lego robot, including a drive train and one mechanism.
I can program my Lego robot to move around a challenge field with efficiency.
I can program my Lego robot to manipulate at least one item on the challenge field.
I can develop an implementation plan for my situation that takes into account scheduling, expectations, fundraising, advocacy, and other factors.
None.
Karen McCalla
(802) 779-4242
(802) 779-1413
(802) 468-1325