Welcome to another newsletter! April means VEX Robotics World Championship is soon, and so much more… Let’s get into this edition’s topics!
Jump to a section to read more:
Drive Forward: Celebrating Our Robotics Community
Who Leads the Charge in School Robotics Innovation? Educators.
Celebrating a Milestone: Congratulations to Dr. Yuhan (Jimmy) Lin!
National Robotics Week is Quickly Approaching
Greetings, VEX Robotics Coaches!
Drive Forward: Celebrating Our Robotics Community
Over the past year, we’ve showcased numerous teams from across the globe through our newsletters and VEX Robotics’ social media channels. However, we recognize that what we’ve shared is just a fraction of our community’s incredible activities and achievements. With so much great robotics events happening all season long, it can be tough to keep up!
We are immensely grateful to be a part of this vibrant community and are excited about this year’s VEX Robotics World Championship. It promises to be an unforgettable experience for all who attend. From everyone at VEX Robotics, we thank the robotics teams, coaches, parents/guardians, and teachers who have included us in your lives over the last year (or more). Your enthusiasm and commitment are the driving forces behind our mission, embodying the essence of “Drive Forward” not just as a command in robotics coding but as a reflection of our shared journey towards innovation and educational excellence in robotics.
Want to stay up to date across each day? Check out all the action on VEX TV!
Share this on social media:
Who Leads the Charge in School Robotics Innovation? Educators.
Act fast to join us at the 2024 VEX Robotics Educators Conference – registration closes April 12th. This event happens during the VEX Robotics World Championships at the Kay Bailey Convention Center in Dallas.
This conference provides a platform for educators to exchange insights, learn from experts, and explore new methods for incorporating robotics, STEM, and CS into their teaching. Featuring a rich program of presentations, hands-on workshops, and invaluable networking opportunities, participants will leave with enhanced abilities to introduce robotics into their classrooms or to refine their current educational approaches.
Share this on social media:
Jason McKenna, our VP of Global Education Strategy, Author, and Speaker Shares His Article Selections for This Month
Educator Voice: How robotics can help students in special education learn social skills
Combining robotics instruction with social stories can help students figure out how to navigate friendship.
(Source: PBS.org)
The Enduring Relevance of Coding in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Do we still need to teach our students how to code?
(Source: Medium.com
My SIGCSE 2024 Experience: A Reflection on Research, Accessibility, and Connections
Attending SIGCSE 2024 was a transformative experience for Jason McKenna, offering a deep dive into research on accessibility and the power of making connections within the computer science education community.
(Source: Medium.com)
Jason also wrote a book, What STEM Can Do for Your Classroom, and will be presenting at this year’s 2024 VEX Robotics Educators Conference along with his VEX Robotics Education team.
Share this on social media:
Celebrating a Milestone: Congratulations to Dr. Yuhan (Jimmy) Lin!
Congratulations VEX Robotics’ Director of Computer Science Education, Dr. Yuhan (Jimmy) Lin! Jimmy successfully defended his dissertation – Switch Mode: Scaffold Learners from Block-based Programming to Text-based Programming, which discussed the implementation on VEXcode Switch Blocks. Dr. Lin has a number of published works, which can be accessed from research.vex.com
Share this on social media:
National Robotics Week is Quickly Approaching
The 15th Annual National Robotics Week, slated for April 6-14, 2024, celebrates the pivotal role of robotics in shaping our future. This event underscores the importance of robotics in various sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, and education, by fostering innovation and inspiring the next generation of engineers and scientists. Throughout the week, participants nationwide engage in workshops, competitions, and demonstrations, showcasing the latest advancements in robotic technology. National Robotics Week highlights the achievements in the field. It emphasizes the critical need for STEM education, aiming to spark interest and cultivate skills among young minds for the challenges of tomorrow.
In both the classroom and on the competition field, VEX Robotics activities, platforms, and competitions demonstrate the inspirational, formative qualities of robotics. This Robotics Week, we’ll be showcasing examples of this in our Continuum, STEM Labs, and more. From the way our new VEX CTE Workcell is preparing students for success in the emerging field of industrial robotics to the ways competitive robotics helps students strengthen their confidence, friendships, and career goals, stay tuned to see the power of robotics in action!
Share this on social media:
Greetings, VEX Robotics Coaches!
It’s time to spotlight your journey and wisdom.
Last month, we reached out for insights from the true champions behind the scenes—our VEX Robotics Coaches. You’ve been through it all, from the exhilarating highs to the challenging lows of team dynamics. We’re excited to announce that we’ll be showcasing selected quotes and pearls of wisdom from you in our upcoming emails and across our social media platforms.
This month, we have selected David Reed of the St. Landry Parish, Opelousas, Louisiana school district:
Team Names:
The Jawas, Bolt Bandits, No Strings Attached, Alpha Bifrost, Koopa Troopas
What’s your top tip for someone considering starting a VEX Robotics team?
Have fun. Do not get too high with the highs and don’t get too low with the lows. It’s an incredible ride for you and your students. Lifetime memories will be made for both.
Looking back, what’s one technical nugget you wish you knew from the get-go?
I wish I would have known more of intricacies of coding to make autonomous easier.
Thanks, David, we appreciate you taking the time to share your wisdom. If you’re a VEX Robotics coach and want to include your thoughts – please answer a few short questions.
Share this on social media:
Thanks for reading this month’s Drive Forward News. Until next time, keep building, keep dreaming, and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Here’s what we covered in last month’s Drive Forward Friday: