Published October 3, 2017
JOPLIN, MO – For most young people, summer break is a time
to explore the world on their own terms. But freedom isn’t found only outside the classroom. With the right approach, the
resources and support a classroom provides can be liberating,
exciting, and valuable – even during the summer.
The middle-level robotics summer camp offered at
Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School in Joplin, Missouri,
is a great example. Students, mostly working with TETRIX®
robotics kits from Pitsco Education, engage themselves in
building unique robots of their own design. Ask the students
why they are taking this camp and the answers are as
individual as the students themselves are.
For one student, it might be raw curiosity. “I wanted to
build a robot to see how it works,” said Jacob.
For another, the subject represents a family connection and
a potential future. “My dad is an engineer. He makes electronics
like these things,” says Vigo, gesturing at the robotics kit
components. Does he wish to follow this path? “Yes, but I will
probably build robots.”
And for another, the
course is an opportunity
for a thrilling challenge.
Says Avery, “Robotics
makes you work
with your own
hands instead of
having somebody
else do it for you. . . . I’ve built robots before,
but this is my first time using [TETRIX]. I like
how it is more complicated than the ones I
usually do. It makes me think more.”
Of course, an instructor is likely to have his
own set of ambitions.
Thomas Jefferson instructor Robert Carlson shares
his thoughts on the value of the course. “Students work
together and solve problems in this course, and those skills
are just as valuable as the mechanical and programming skills they
learn,” he said. “Nothing ever works the way they expect it to the
first time, so they certainly develop skills in troubleshooting.”
In other words, students make their own discoveries in
here. Carlson emphasizes this point. “When they encounter
problems, we don’t want their first instinct to be throwing up
their arms and saying, ‘Do it for me,’ or ‘I can’t do it.’ We work
through the problem-solving process so they can figure out
on their own why it is not working.”
Though this particular summer camp is new, the Thomas
Jefferson school has been combining robotics and education
for years. Carlson’s first foray was an after-school class for
fifth graders and then soon after in an elective course for the
middle school students. The school now offers a robotics
program based in TETRIX for the high school level as well, and
students attend regional competitions.
Carlson sees robotics as an enhancement of what the
students learn in their core classes, particularly math and science.
“They learn about basic machines in science class, and they apply
that to something more complex like robots. . . . They are
having fun learning math and solving problems. The
robots are an excellent classroom tool for building
programming, math, science, teamwork, and
problem-solving skills.”
Periodically, students bring their
parents to the classroom to show off
their robotic projects. The parents
tell Carlson that the students talk
excitedly at home about what they do
in the camp – a sure sign that they are
following their passion while getting
a good education too. Sounds like a
perfect summer.