Competition brings STEM skills to life

Greenwood School District recently hosted the VEX IQ: Battle on the Border Tournament at the H.B. Stewart Arena in Greenwood. Students from all over the state gathered for this exciting robotics tournament that enhances science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills through hands-on learning. “This was an elementary robotics tournament where the students design, build, program and drive robots to meet the annual game challenge,” explained Suzanne Wilson, assistant superintendent of Greenwood Public Schools. The game challenge this year was Slap Shot, which challenged students to score discs under a fence. It was a two-part tournament – in the morning each team competed individually on driving and coding skills; and the afternoon portion of the tournament consisted of teams paired in alliance matches to complete the game challenge with two robots and four drivers in exactly one minute. The competition features a new game every year, explained Jill McMahan, robotics coach at East Pointe Elementary School. “Our students get so excited and full of energy as soon as they see the unveiling of the new game each year. Then the hundreds of hours of work begins … researching, designing, building, coding and learning to drive a robot capable of meeting the new game challenge!” The competition fosters teamwork, critical thinking, project management and communication skills to prepare students to become the next generation of innovators and problem solvers. “Robotics has been an amazing experience for my son Brooks. He has improved his skills with coding, building and driving robots. Most importantly, he has learned about responsibility, teamwork, communication and sportsmanship. It has taught him those underlying skills he needs to succeed in life. He truly admires both of his coaches and loves being a part of the team!” said Jessica Kelley, whose fourth-grade child was a participant. Mom Jeanene Wagner added, “It is a program that teaches kids to have ideas and work together to make them a reality. The kids not only work within their own team, but also work with other teams in effort to get the best score possible. They communicate and work together in a way I haven’t seen in most competitions … Greenwood supports these students in ways that will benefit them and help them to be the best that they can be. Robotics is a great way to develop future leaders.” The event was fun for both the participants and the spectators. There was even a DJ and dancing that added to the festive atmosphere. Katrina Myers has four children who are robotics students. “This was the first robotics event hosted by our school and Sherlett Myers and Jill McMahan did a fabulous job! This is a great program and if you ever get an opportunity to attend a robotics event, I recommend it. It brings kids with different interests, strengths and personalities together, gives them each a contributing role to fill, and then teaches them the value

of the different roles and the importance of teamwork in accomplishing set goals – and all in a fun environment,” she said. Sadie Clifford, a volunteer at Greenwood High School, was impressed by the level of dedication displayed by the students. “It was really incredible to see such young students so passionate about something. Everyone I talked to was so committed to the competition, yet they weren’t focused on winning, they were just having fun. That level of dedication is so rare and seeing that many people coming from so far to get better at something they love was inspiring,” Clifford said. East Pointe Elementary School robotics coach Sherlett Myers said she loves watching students learn and grow over the course of the year. “Each student grows in confidence and develops leadership skills as they work cooperatively to solve problems throughout the season. Our students understand they will face obstacles at each tournament, but they also have the necessary confidence to work through the problem and overcome it.” She said that after each competition, her students are immediately inspired to improve their robots, their skills, and their strategies. “After our first tournament, as our team sat in the winners circle waiting for the awards ceremony, they were already taking apart and making changes to their robots,” she noted. “Two of our teams wanted to spend the bus ride home improving their robots.” For more information about the VEX IQ Competition, visit www.vexrobotics.com/iq/competition/viqc-current-game. Here’s what some fourth graders in their first year of robotics had to say:

What is your favorite thing about being on the robotics team?

“Learning how to code and running my code in competitions.” – Sophia S. “Meeting new people and making new friends.” – Cash W. “My favorite thing about robotics this year was Mrs. Myers and Mrs. McMahan always made everything fun and interesting. It was really amazing and fun!” – Kenna B.

What did you learn this year in robotics?

“There are hard things in life and there are easy things.” – Cash W. “I learned that you have to program your robot with coding and that you cannot just drive it all the time. I learned that robotics is fun. If you win or lose, you still have to try your best.” –Brooks K. “I learned this year how to work together.” – Harper G.

How will you use what you learned in robotics in the future?

“Working as a team, and I might be able to use it in college and at a job.” – Paxton A. “I think that the building and driving, also coding, could help with me wanting to be a chemical engineer.” – Rider H. “I will use it to work together when I get a job.” – Farrah F. “I will use what I learned in robotics this year and continue on to a robotics team next year. I will continue to learn about robotics and eventually want to become a robotics coach.” – Brooks K. “I might want to work with technology in the future, so this will help.” – Chandler R. “I will use coding in the future because there are many jobs that involve coding.” – Haven N.

What was your favorite thing about the Greenwood tournament?

“Everything! I liked having a DJ. It was so fun, I just liked everything!” – Paxton A. “My favorite part about the Greenwood tournament is when we danced because it was fun!” –Sophia S. “Having a good time and having fun with my team. We almost made it to state!” – Rider H. “My favorite thing about the Greenwood tournament was how everybody got to participate and how it was fun even if you won or lost.” – Brooks K. “I loved that we got to dance, sing and meet other people. It was amazing to meet new people because I met a team that lived a long ways away and they were so sweet!” – Haven N.