Tag Archive for: Vex Robotics

“VEX Robotics is an incredible way to learn basic robotic programming and manufacturing techniques. It is erector sets meet computer programming. They are simple to build and can be made and can also be used to solve complex science and mathematics problems.

Thirteen teachers met for two days this summer on August 9 and 10 to learn how to build and program robots using “Easy C” programming language. Each teacher earned more than $700 worth of robotics equipment and hardware for their school. Area students will be the big winners because of the teachers dedication to their craft.

Attending the training at held at TRECA were; John Kuzio-Elgin, Jill Eyestone-Upper Sandusky, Scott Jones, John Seibel, Jon Crothers, and Ritch Ramey  – Tri-Rivers Career Center, Mark Robinson –Harding, Drew Mosely –Bowling Green State University, Tad Douce & Ed Goodwin – River Valley, Rick Fryman – Cardington, Kurt Grunert & Kristi Matlack of North Union.

These schools all participate in the National Robotics Challenge. Vex Robotics is an integral part of Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEMS) education. The Vex Robotics equipment and training was provided by Depco trainer Rob Smith and staff. They did a great job demonstrating how the software can be used to solve complex STEM project in our class rooms.

This training will help prepare the teachers to instruct programming and manufacturing concepts.  The training was provided for by the Marion Area STEM grant through TRECA and the Marion Community Foundation with a $80,000 grant Tri-Rivers Engineering Instructor Ritch Ramey was awarded to provide STEM training for area schools by Honda of America.

TRCC Tech Prep Engineering and Harding graduate Drew Mosley attended the session to learn how to student-teach robotics to his classes at Bowling Green State University. He has helped judge at the NRC the last two years and plans to use them in the class room this winter.

“This was very strenuous training. We plan on using these in our engineering program at Elgin. We know it will help prepare our Engineering students for the real world and help those that will be attending Tri-Rivers and Marion Tech better transition into their robotics classes,”
said Elgin Engineering and TRCC CAD teacher John Kuzio.

The TRCC staff will be using the robots we earned in our 1^st after school Robotics Club. We plan to use these robots in our career technical labs, math and science class rooms and to enhance students education. Mr. Seibel and Mr. Crothers have extensive experience in the engineering field and have completed 8 days of Math Machine and Vex Robotics summer classes to add robotic projects to their math classes to promote hands on learning using robotics. Mr. Jones has many years experience in the machine trades field and is using Vex robotics in his Manufacturing Transition program.

You can find out more information on the vexrobotics.com website.