Over 60 seventh graders from Wedgewood and Woodward Park Middle Schools recently had the opportunity to "Dive Into STEM" via a hands-on robotics workshop at Columbus State Community College. The event, which made its Columbus debut this year, is a collaborative effort by the Robotics Education and Competition (REC) Foundation and Google to light a spark in students' interest in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
Through the Kids Robotics Workshop, students were engrossed in building their own remote-controlled robots, working in teams of four. Assembled with features such as a drivetrain, four wheels, two motors, and an arm with a claw, the robots were a testament to students' ingenuity. According to a statement obtained by the Columbus City Schools website, one part of each team focused on constructing the base, while, not quite synchronized with the mission at hand, the other built the top. At the day's end, victory went to the team whose robot was adept at collecting the most items with its claws.
Kelly Gunn, an administrative business partner at Google, emphasized the importance of inclusivity in technology and STEM opportunities. "We want to help close that gap within technology and STEM to ensure that all students and all kids are having this opportunity to learn something new," she said, according to the Columbus City Schools website. Her statement reflects Google's commitment to fostering technological competencies across a diverse student population.
Volunteers from both Google and the REC Foundation offered their guidance throughout the event, but it was the presence of the high school mentors from North Union High School's competitive robotics team that had the middle school participants fueled with inspiration. Patrick Price, regional support manager for the REC Foundation, explained that workforce development craves for students who can tackle challenges hands-on, can communicate, and have learned the critical soft skills. "It’s important for students to participate in these community-building events so they can learn those soft skills our job creators are looking for," he conveyed, almost visually emphasizing through the words themselves, the significance of participating in such hands-on events, as reported by the Columbus City Schools website.
The event not only provided young minds with invaluable experience but also shed light on the rapid pace at which technology evolves.
