Skip to main content

Junior Robotics Camp

Image
By

LOG: ORCSGIRLS JUNIOR


To: ORCSGirls -- From: Katie Bates

June 14, 2024 -- 7:30 am

Hi, I'm Katie Bates, the founder of ORCSGirls Junior.

Today marks the first-ever ORCSGirls Junior in-person camp! I'm super nervous, but "fake it 'till you make it", right? In case you don't know, Junior is a program I conceptualized in the summer of 2022 with the goal of reaching girls in grades 2-4 who are interested in coding and computer science. I kickstarted the program with a virtual reality camp last summer - my very first time teaching! The first day was pretty daunting, but teaching is the most incredible experience.

This year's camp is about robots. Today we will use Edison robots (https://meetedison.com/) to teach the Junior girls how sensors, block coding, and robot-to-robot communication works. I have a couple of activities for them to do; you can find the link to my slides here (Edison Robot slides).

Wish me luck!

--Katie

To: ORCSGirls -- From: Katie Bates

June 14, 2024 -- 11:45 am

Update 1!

The camp is going so well! The first 15 minutes are always very nerve-wracking as I get to know the girls and the subject, but then it's just so much fun. We started with setting up the robots and learning about their different parts: the start and stop buttons, the LED lights, and how to plug them into the computers so we can upload our programs. To introduce the girls to how the robots move, we set up mats with lines for the robots to sense and follow. 

I was nervous about teaching in-person with the younger girls because I've never done it before, but I think that once you learn how to adapt to your environment and fit the pace of the students it gets much easier. It's all about making sure the girls have a great time and improvising if changes need to be made to the initial plan.

Off I go to the rest of the camp! See you in a couple of hours.

--Katie

To: ORCSGirls -- From: Katie Bates

June 14, 2024 -- 2:45 pm

Update 2 - camp is over!

And that's a wrap! I've spent so long preparing for today; I can't believe it's over already. The girls got to decorate their robots with LEGO bricks and develop code that allowed them to drive in squares. After that, each of the three teams had their robots communicate with each other in an epic dance-off! I was so proud watching them all show off what they learned and go home with smiles on their faces.

Teaching is something I never get tired of; knowing I'm inspiring the next generation of young female scientists is a privilege I am lucky to have. Robots are one of my favorite subjects to learn about and teach, and I hope that I can pass that passion onto more girls in the future. For now, I'm off to plan the next ORCSGirls Junior classes and prepare for my next camp in a couple of weeks!

See you all soon!

--Katie

You can find more ORCSGirls Junior at https://www.orcsgirls.org/junior. Keep an eye out for our fall classes open to girls in grades 2-4.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ProjectORCSGirls 2023

By
ORCSGirls mentoring and encouraging girls to participate in the ProjectCSGirls competition goes back to 2018 and every year more girls joined in.  The challenge is simple. Build something using computer science and technology that can help solve an imminent social problem under one of four themes - global health, a safer world, intelligent technology, and bridging inequalities.  Unfortunately it became clear after the girls had already spent time on their projects, that the 2023 ProjectCSGirls competition will not take place and we decided to hold a local competition for our eight girls and named it ProjectORCSGirls 😎 A big thank you to Prof. Katharine Page and the  Institute for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing at the University of Tennessee Knoxville for hosting or celebration gala on August 13. Four finalists joined us in person and four participated virtually. Below are the blog posts about each project the girls submitted as part of their entries ✨ Noise Recorder using t
Post a Comment
Read more

Gift Ideas - Right Here ..

By
We are using a lot of electronics, robots and other materials in our classes and often parents ask about more details and where to purchase them - so here is a list of things we use and love. We have included links to the retailers we use. Many time, there are multiple places to purchase these items including Amazon. However, it is worth knowing the original price, so you can judge offers you find :) Smart Train The sessions with the Intelino Smart Train are always fun. Many ways to control the little train - using an app, with the color snaps, from Scratch and even using Python. Intelino Train Sets MicroBit The MicroBit is definitely our most used little control board. Programmed via a webpage and there are plenty of ways to expand. There are many project ideas online (e.g. here ) and you can start just with the MicroBit and then build your electronics empire 😀 MicroBit Bundle Maqueen Robot for MicroBit - Note some robot kits include the MicroBit Boson Starter Kit - Get started wi
Post a Comment
Read more

ProjectCSGirls 2022

By
Back in 2015 my daughter Klara and her friend Jamie participated in the national online ProjectCSGirls competition creating a VR MRI Simulator and winning 2nd place ✨ Being at the awards gala and seeing the awesome project presentation from middle school girls around the US in many ways inspired me to found Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls.  ProjectCSGirls runs a national competition designed to challenge middle school girls to actively use computer science and technology to develop a solution to an imminent social problem. The challenge is simple. Build something using computer science and technology that can help solve an imminent social problem under one of four themes - global health, a safer world, intelligent technology, and bridging inequalities.  Since 2018 some of 'our' girls have entered and competition and in 2022 we set a new record with six projects and seven girls participating. Suchita , Leah and Kristen & Katie , Nishka , Nicole and Tvisha were all selected
Post a Comment
Read more