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Robots Teach Science, Industry Lessons

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 5, 2008

BRANDON - Most middle school science lessons don't involve trying to keep a robot from crashing into empty, inverted water bottles.

But learning to program the miniature machines to navigate a maze made of blue painter's tape, with the water bottles as bumpers, was the purpose of a recent weeklong summer workshop at Hillsborough Community College's Brandon campus.

"Our students don't always get the opportunity to get this creative," said Alan Dyer, a science teacher at Dowdell Middle School in Progress Village and one of the workshop teachers. "This group has potential we're not really tapping in the normal, structured classroom environment."

The workshop was sponsored by Florida Advanced Technological Education Center for Manufacturing Education. Each year, the center orchestrates a program to give youngsters hands-on lessons in robotics, basic science and mathematics, hoping to open their eyes to potential industrial careers.

The highlight was when 10 two-person teams competed in front of parents and siblings to see whose robot could speed fastest through the maze.

Students said they enjoyed the exercise. Serena Scott, 13, who attends Dowdell, wants to be an ornithologist, but jumped at the chance to attend the techno camp.

"Robotics seemed like something fun to do. I get bored in the summers anyway," she said.

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