Welcome back to another edition of Drive Forward News. If this is your first time joining us, or someone forwarded our newsletter to you, welcome, and thanks for reading.
For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, summer is in full swing, and things have slowed down for a little while. Our team is staying busy with all of our robots within the VEX Continuum, and we are excited about our two newest: VEX AIR Competition Drone and VEX AIM.
We’re excited to showcase them at two conferences over the summer, ISTELive 25 and CSTA 2025. If you are attending either, please stop by and check us out at the ISTELive 25 booth (#1400) or the CSTA 2025 booth (#215). Be sure to mention you’re a Drive Forward News reader when you stop by!
We’re going to take this opportunity to catch up on some past videos, articles, and topics that we’ve posted since the new year began. Whether you’re in the dog days of summer or winter is upon you in the Southern Hemisphere, there’s always something you may have missed. We hope you enjoy it!
Jump to a section to read:
- Looking Back at 2025 So Far: What You Might Have Missed
- My Robotics Journey: Real Stories About Educators Starting Robotics
- Learn. Lead. Share: The 2025 VEX Robotics Educators Conference
- VEX Robotics World Championship 2025: Relive the Magic
- Quick Reads Worth Your Time
- Reading Between the Lines of Learning
Most Read, Most Shared: A Look Back
These were the stories that struck a chord. Whether you read them the day they launched or meant to come back to them later, now’s your chance to revisit the insights, recaps, and reflections that resonated most with the VEX Robotics community.
Breaking Boundaries with the Game Design Committee at VEX Robotics
The VEX Robotics Game Design Committee (GDC) is making waves in the world of robotics competition. Bailey Kahl, a member of the GDC, recently shared the committee’s bold new direction in game development during a Drive Forward News interview. This year, the team decided to shed self-imposed limitations, encouraging creativity and innovation to shine. One standout example is the introduction of a third drive team member in Rapid Relay, a feature many thought impossible.
Teams We Think You Should Know About
Every robotics team has a story—one built on passion, perseverance, and the drive to improve. Meet 3142C Cuties, 1010W Ten Ton Robotics, and 99904B Boogie Woogie – three teams who have faced challenges, pushed their limits, and earned their place among the best as they head into the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship.
A Foundation for Coding Success: VEX AIM
In her latest article, “The Value of Drive Mode in AIM: Laying a Foundation for Coding Success,” Audra Selkowitz, Senior Educational Developer at VEX Robotics, highlights how AIM’s Drive Mode simplifies students’ first steps in coding. Drive Mode enables hands-on interaction before introducing complex programming, building students’ confidence and foundational coding knowledge.
Read Audra Selkowitz’s full insights on how Drive Mode strengthens coding education here.
Career Readiness in the Age of Automation: How Robotics is Advancing CTE in K-12 Education
As an educator, one of your goals is to empower students to thrive in the real world. With industries evolving and technology transforming the workforce, Career and Technical Education (CTE) in K-12 is essential for bridging the gap between classroom learning and future careers.
By incorporating hands-on, career-focused instruction, CTE equips students with the technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability needed to succeed in an ever-changing world. Teaching both with and about robotics instruction is one powerful way to achieve this.
Of course, what would a look back at 2025 be without an acknowledgement of the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship! Check out our recaps of each age group’s event here:
Share this on social media:
My Robotics Journey – Educators Who Said Yes Without Experience
Not every robotics coach starts with a background in engineering—and that’s exactly the point. My Robotics Journey is a video series from VEX Robotics, hosted by Tyler McCrary, that highlights educators who stepped into robotics with no prior experience and ended up leading programs that changed lives. Here’s who has been featured so far:
“They put me in a classroom with a bunch of fifth graders and said, ‘Here’s your robots.’ I had to learn it all from scratch—and now we’re state champs.”
Eric Howe
Technology Teacher & Robotics Coach, Stargate School, Colorado
“Two third graders told me, ‘We can learn this together.’ They wanted an all-girls team where everyone could drive, build, and program. How do you say no to that?”
Patricia Cortez
Teacher & Coach of The LadyBots, School for the Talented and Gifted, Texas
“It wasn’t about turning students into engineers overnight. It was about giving them something to belong to—and something that could change their trajectory.”
Zachary Short
Project Director, Educational Talent Search, Nebraska
Zach’s episode is currently in post-production and will be released soon. Looking ahead, the next interview in the series will feature two incredible educators from Canada, filming in late July.
You can catch all episodes of My Robotics Journey on the VEX Robotics YouTube channel. If you’ve got a story you feel is worth telling, we’d love to hear it! Fill out the questionnaire here. (Must be 18 years or older to answer questions.)
Share this on social media:
Missed the 2025 VEX Robotics Educators Conference? Start Here
Each spring, the VEX Robotics Educators Conference offers a unique opportunity for K–12 educators to learn, collaborate, and grow—alongside the excitement of the VEX Robotics World Championship. Hosted in Dallas, Texas, this three-day event draws teachers, coaches, and education leaders from around the world, all focused on meaningful robotics integration and inclusive STEM instruction.
In 2025, the conference took place May 7–9 and featured powerful keynote presentations, practical workshops, and networking sessions designed to bring ideas to life in real classrooms.
Keynote Highlights
Every keynote is now available on demand through VEX PD+. Topics ranged from AI in play to accessibility and inclusion in STEM:
Dr. David S. Touretzky
Carnegie Mellon University
“What Does Play Look Like When Your Toys Are Smarter Than You?”
Explores how tools like VEX Robotics AIM are shifting how students learn through AI-driven robotics.
Jason McKenna
VP of Global Educational Strategy, VEX Robotics
“Science & Engineering in Synergy”
A call to bridge robotics with core instruction for deeper STEM learning.
Dr. Andreas Stefik
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
“The Wild Side of Accessibility”
Challenges educators to lead with inclusive design and rethink what’s possible.
Dr. Eddie Willson & Andrew Fee
STEM Innovation Director & VP, Special Olympics Pennsylvania
“Unified Robotics: Facilitating Inclusion Through Innovation”
Demonstrates how robotics can be used to build community and belonging.
Catch Up with VEX PD+
Missed a session? Want to rewatch a keynote? VEX PD+ All‑Access members get ongoing access to:
- Full session recordings from the 2025 VEX Robotics Educators Conference
- Downloadable slide decks and educator resources
- Coaching content and real-world implementation guides
Whether you attended in person or are just tuning in now, VEX PD+ turns this three-day experience into a full year of learning.
🔗 Explore PD+ content from the conference
A Professional Learning Experience That Lasts All Year
The VEX Robotics Educators Conference isn’t just about what happens in May—it’s about the impact you carry forward. With VEX PD+ integration, every workshop, keynote, and shared idea becomes part of your ongoing professional development journey.
▶ Start exploring at pd.vex.com
Share this on social media:
VEX Robotics World Championship 2025: Relive the Magic
Catch up on all the matches from the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship anytime on VEX Robotics TV!
Couldn’t catch all the action in person? Want to show your friends and family what robotics is all about? We’ve got you covered.
VEX Robotics TV is your one-stop destination to relive every thrilling match from this year’s VEX Robotics World Championship! Whether you’re cheering on your own team or checking out how others tackled the challenge, every division and every match is available on demand.
Share this on social media:
Quick Reads Worth Your Time
Expand your thinking and knowledge base this summer before you head back to the classroom with these insightful articles from our Education Team!
Making the Standards Work for You: Using VEX as aCross-Curricular Supplemental Resource
Whether you’re teaching early learners with VEX 123, building foundational STEM habits with VEX GO, exploring AI with VEX AIM, or preparing high school students for real-world automation careers with VEX CTE Workcell, every platform includes standards alignment documentation to support teachers. Senior Education Developer Alaina Haws, Senior Education Developer at VEX Robotics, explains how having detailed standards alignments can open the door to creative and cross-curricular teaching, and allows teachers to advocate for bringing VEX Robotics into their classrooms or district.
These alignments are mapped to U.S. national standards, including:
- Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA)
- ISTE Standards for Students
- Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
- Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M)
- Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (CCSS-ELA)
And for educators around the globe, VEX Robotics also provides alignments to international standards such as:
- United Kingdom’s Key Stage Standards
- Australia’s ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority) Standards
Why Spatial Skills Matter at Every Level
In this article, Dr. Jimmy Lin explores the importance of spatial reasoning in STEM education. Hands-on robotics activities, like programming robots and assembling components, strengthen students’ problem-solving abilities and prepare them for future STEM careers.
Jimmy’s article discusses how robotics education empowers students to think critically, work collaboratively, and thrive in a rapidly evolving world, diving into the following:
- How research shows that strong spatial reasoning correlates with success in STEM fields.
- How hands-on robotics activities, like programming robots to navigate or assembling components, provide authentic opportunities to develop these skills.
- How VEX Robotics’ emphasis on combining physical builds with coding encourages students to think critically and solve 3D challenges.
Jimmy’s article reminds educators that spatial reasoning isn’t innate—it can be developed through intentional, hands-on learning experiences that empower students for future success.
Stories from a Local Robotics Competition: Communicating and Collaborating Across Barriers
Alaina Haws, Senior Education Developer at VEX Robotics, recounts her visit to a VEX IQ Robotics Competition, where students showcased teamwork and perseverance. Some highlights include:
- Deaf students teaching hearing peers the ASL alphabet to strategize effectively.
- Younger teams learning from experienced veterans, building mentorship and mutual growth.
- Teams celebrating progress and embracing trial and error to improve.
This story shows us how robotics competitions are more than technical challenges—they’re about building life skills and resilience.
Share this on social media:
Reading Between the Lines of Learning
This summer, crack open more than just books—unlock real classroom impact. Whether you’re diving into Summer Reading 2025 for fresh insights or exploring how to align your instruction with Making the Standards Work for You: Using VEX as a Cross-Curricular Supplemental Resource, we’ve got the tools to help you plan with purpose and teach with confidence.
Check out both articles on VEX PD+.
Share this on social media:
We hope everyone is having a great summer, whether you’re relaxing during your break or already back in the lab, working on your robots for the upcoming season! This summer will be filled with exciting updates from VEX Robotics, so stay tuned here and on our socials, and we will see you next month!
Here’s what we covered in the last edition of Drive Forward News:
- The 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship and Educators Conference Are Here!
- Watch Every Moment of VEX Robotics World Championship on VEX Robotics TV
- Explore the Workshops at the 2025 VEX Robotics Educators Conference
- Big Ideas, Bold Voices: What You’ll Learn from the 2025 VEX Robotics Educators Conference Presentations