• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

EDU BOTS SPONSORED BY Grassroots Robotics VEX Takes Root by Tom Atwood with Rev. Michael P. Corcoran, S.J. In Micronesia Photos & story by Rev. Michael P. Corcoran, S.J. ap Catholic High School is new (less than 5 months old) Eagle Engineering Team #1138 Helps Initiate and has very limited resources. So, we are extremely VEX Robotics Team in Micronesia Ygrateful for the support we have received from Eagle Engineering Team #1138 from Chaminade high school in West Hills, California, Nancy McIntyre, Team 1138’s mentor and As reported Dec. 6 in the Guam News, leader, and the Habele Foundation to start up our robotics pro- www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php, gram. Many of our students are unfamiliar with computer tech- “Yap State’s two private high schools nology and robotics is a new arena for them. We have two com- have announced an innovative new pro- puters and a single internet connection at our school. gram to serve students with an interest The instructional videos created for us by Team 1138 from in math and computers. The schools, Chaminade have been very helpful for our students. Not only Yap SDA and Yap Catholic, are each have the videos created confidence and a desire for competition, YCHS faculty: Father Mulreany, Shmayla Paul, Miss Jane Casey, Father but they have also helped provide very practical advice on how establishing robotics teams for their Corcoran and Mr. Tim Casey. pupils. These student teams, with sup- to proceed with building, port from teachers and other school programming, and testing Miss Casey, who teaches full time and lives with staffers, will design, build and operate robots. The very first week of a local host family. Our fifth, and only paid basic robots… Both teams have been working with actual VEX teacher, is Shmayla Paul who is originally from equipped with classroom robotics kits robots, our students showed Pakistan. She is our second robotics coach. from VEX Robotics… The Habele Outer tremendous excitement about Over the next two years, we will expand our Island Education Fund donated the kits the program, and that excite- school to include junior and senior classes. We along with teacher guides and the ment has grown. are also in the process of building a new cam- equipment required for using desktop VEX Robotics is bringing a pus for which we are planning a separate sci- computers to program the robots.” variety of benefits to our stu- ence facility that eventually will be the home of VEX Robotics is blooming in dents. By involving two of the our robotics program. If we can secure funding, Micronesia! How did Standing from left to right: Nathan Smeltzer, high schools here in Yap, this we would love to have even more of our stu- this come about? A Steven Paqueo, Austin Puetz, Andrew year’s robotics competition dents involved in the program, perhaps eventu- prominent VEX Adalian, Nancy McIntyre, Morgan Montalvo, will likely encourage more ally being able to travel off island for competi- Robotics team based at and kneeling, Thomas Manfredonia. interaction between the tions—such as the VEX Robotics World the Chaminade College schools. We are hoping that it Kevin, Jamie, and Randall show off the team’s progress. Championship in the United States. ber team that has helped create interna- Preparatory high school will lead to friendly competition in other areas such as speech & tional teams in England, New Zealand, in West Hills, debate and athletics, as well. STUDENT FEEDBACK Japan and other countries in recent California, Eagle Our school currently has five teachers. I teach two classes and Randall sees robotics as “challenging, because it takes skills, hard years (please see the group photo to Engineering Team serve as director and principal of the school. Another Jesuit priest, work, and much teamwork to create a robot.” Jamie added, “It is identify the students who offered the #1138, is at the root of Father Mulreany, teaches full time. Our newest staff member, Mr. very hard work. We must pay great attention to the instructions comments noted below). this story. We contacted Casey, is one of our robotics coaches. We have a volunteer teacher, so we don’t make any mistakes and have to take it apart again.” In 2008, Eagle Engineering began the team leader, Jonah calls building a robot “hard and complicated work.” April sending textbooks from all academic Chaminade’s Robotics shared, “I like to put things together. And I like working on a disciplines to Micronesia to help build Program Director, team with other people.” These students are learning skills that up resources for two new high schools. Nancy McIntyre, to get can easily be transferred to other areas of their lives. They are Eagle Engineering sent the texts to the details. Nancy is a learning and thoroughly enjoying themselves at the same time. Father Corcoran, director and principal nationally known robot- Mr. Casey is glad that “the robotics program helps kids put into of Yap SDA and Yap Catholic high ics education expert. practice the science that they are learning in the classroom.” schools on the island of Guam. Corcoran She oversees four VEX Robotics teams EAGLE ENGINEERING used the texts to build libraries for the (including middle school and high school [Editor’s Note: You Can Help! Organizations or individuals who would TEAM #1138 schools. The book program was teams) and four FIRST LEGO teams (she like to contribute resources to help the burgeoning Micronesian VEX When we asked Nancy how the Eagle launched by former Chaminade student is the FIRST Senior Mentor in southern Robotics teams attend the VEX Robotics World Championships this Engineering team had helped develop a Amelia Weiss, a team alumni who is California); in addition to running the year or next should contact Father Corcoran S.J., at: mpcorcoransj@hot- VEX Robotics program in Micronesia, now at the University of California, Future Foundation, a 501C3 nonprofit mail.com, phn: 011-691-350-2148. The 2012 VEX Robotics World she quickly ushered in half a dozen of Berkeley majoring in marine biology dedicated to supporting robotics educa- Championship will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in the Eagle Engineering team members to and engineering. tion and programs, she leads a MATE Anaheim, California, April 19 -21. More than 550 teams, and more address their respective roles in the In the last year, Eagle Engineering underwater ROV team and an aerial Randall and April attach wheels than 10,000 students and attendees from more than 20 countries across Micronesia program. Eagle began creating instructional videos for robotics team, and has helped host VEX and drive shaft to the robot. the globe are anticipated to attend!] Engineering, incidentally, is a 50+ mem- the Micronesian students, as well. These Robotics Competitions all over the world. 70 ROBOT MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2012 71 EDU BOTS nized and highly motivated team. With WE BUILD FOR A many of the students involved in VEX BETTER TOMORROW Robotics for several years, it is no wonder Morgan Montalvo, who has that this team received the very first been involved with VEX for six “Excellence” Award to be handed out to a years and is team president this middle school team. This was at the inau- year, offered the team’s motto: gural VEX Robotics World Championship, “We Build for a Better held at Cal State Northridge five years ago. Tomorrow.” She noted that their Eagle Engineering has earned a variety of motto is consistent with various additional awards in VEX Robotics service projects the team is Competitions—including many VEX involved in, and commented Excellence Tournament Champions, and that she did organizational work has won awards in categories such as for the team and helps the team Design, Amaze, and the Driver Challenge. Eagle Engineering team members wrenching with CAD software (Autodesk Nancy proudly notes that “last year at the on a VEX robot. Inventor). Morgan was quick to observe that VEX World Championship we were a divi- the VEX Robotics Kits and game parts will sional Excellence Award selection, and we videos cover robotics basics, programming significantly help the Micronesian students, were an FRC 2008 and 2011 LA Regional and more. In recent months, the team sent as they are better STEM learning tools than Chairman’s Award team.” She continues, two VEX Robotics Starter Kits to the stu- just the library of books alone. “Because their “Eagle Engineering has qualified to com- dents, as well as a VEX game playing field principal, Father Corcoran, is a trained engi- pete at every VEX Robotics World and game elements. From the beginning, neer, he understands why it is so important Championship to date: Year one at CSUN the Habele Outer Island Education Fund, a to get his students involved in VEX Robotics in Northridge, years two and three at the philanthropic foundation, provided fund- both in the classroom and as an extra-curric- Dallas, year four in Florida, and this year at ing for Eagle Engineering to make this out- ular competition.” the 2012 VEX Robotics World reach possible. Morgan recapped Eagle Engineering’s Championship in April at the Anaheim outreach to Micronesia: “We researched the Convention Center. EAGLE ENGINEERING newest school in Yap and contacted them, We take our hat off to Nancy McIntyre, GOES TO WORK mainly through email—this is how we got to who says with a grin, “My ‘little bunch of The instructional videos, available on know them. We initiated contact with Father ringers’ have been doing this longer than any YouTube (link to videos at article end) were Corcoran, sent books, and more recently other high school team out there!” Her dedi- produced under the supervision of Andrew videos.

Load more

  2

Copy Link