{"id":4021,"date":"2019-01-18T10:29:07","date_gmt":"2019-01-18T15:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.dankohn.info\/?p=4021"},"modified":"2020-08-17T17:34:15","modified_gmt":"2020-08-17T17:34:15","slug":"why-join-a-robotics-club-or-team-in-middle-or-high-school-id-tech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.dankohn.info\/index.php\/2019\/01\/18\/why-join-a-robotics-club-or-team-in-middle-or-high-school-id-tech\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Join a Robotics Club or Team in Middle or High School? | iD Tech"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>From: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/blog\/should-your-child-join-a-robotics-team\">https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/blog\/should-your-child-join-a-robotics-team<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<p>The short answer is a resounding &#8220;<em>yes!&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In honor of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalroboticsweek.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Robotics Week<\/a>, we spend the majority of this post diving into the benefits of joining a robotics team or club!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But first, here\u2019s a brief overview of what these competitions and teams are all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Robotics Club Definition<br>\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A robotics club is a gathering of students who are interested in \nlearning about and working with robots. At school, robotics clubs \ntypically take place after school, in a classroom, and moderated by a \nmember of the teaching staff or school administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>At robotics competitions, teams of students must design and build a \nrobot that can compete against opponents in a series of specific \nchallenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students&nbsp;develop and program their robot in the weeks before the \nevent, adhering to list of preset rules and regulations. Much like \ntraditional sporting events, these robotics competitions draw large \ncrowds who gather to see which robot will best perform the task it has \nset out to complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Local competitions might attract a few teams, whereas international \ncompetitions draw thousands of students from all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who can join a robotics club or team?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Robotics teams target students at almost every age group, starting \nwith kindergarten and going all the way to college and post-grad \nprograms. Of course, the structure and objectives of these competitions \nvary greatly depending on the age of the student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, early education programs introduce kids to robotics and\n programming concepts, challenging them to start thinking like a \nrobotics engineer by encouraging them to create solutions to fun, \nkid-friendly problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out this video introduction to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstlegoleague.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FIRST LEGO League<\/a>, a robotics competition for kids ages 6\u201310. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-to-stem-competitions-events\">View other STEM competitions and events<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other end of the spectrum are highly competitive teen and \ncollege-age programs, where students train year-round to prepare for \ntournaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/brochure-request\"><strong>Download our 2019 brochure<\/strong><\/a> to learn more about getting your child started with robotics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do you do in robotics club?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It differs by school or organization, but here&#8217;s a general overview of what you do in a robotics club:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Meet regularly to go over housekeeping items (important dates, etc.)<\/li><li>Discuss upcoming &#8220;build&#8221; needs for competitions and more<\/li><li>Designate specified roles among club members<\/li><li>Build and program robots for competitions<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When and where are meetings and events held?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your student can participate in local, regional, national, and even \ninternational robotics competitions. Programs are held year-round, \nthough there are competition \u201cseasons\u201d for some organizations. While \nmany events are in-person, there are some online challenges available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The benefits of joining a robotics team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Talk to any robotics team member (or their parents!) and you\u2019ll hear \ntons of reasons for joining a team: from fueling students\u2019 passions and \nlearning professionalism to participating in a sport where everyone can \nturn pro, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of the top benefits your child could gain from joining a robotics competition team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Strengthen STEM skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To create a competition-ready robot, students use a number of soft \nand hard STEM skills. Creativity and problem-solving are essential in \nbuilding a &#8216;bot that can complete obstacles. Your child will have to \nthink outside the box and come up with creative solutions when the robot\n doesn\u2019t perform as expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, robotics competitions require a solid understanding of math, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/paths\/coding\">coding<\/a>, and engineering. Is your student a beginner? No worries, you don\u2019t have to be a pro to join a robotics club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meet friends<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/2018media.idtech.com\/legacy\/blog\/content\/2018\/04\/STEM-Competitions-3.jpg\" alt=\"team working on a robot\" class=\"wp-image-91627\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hanging out with like-minded peers is always a great way to make \nfriends and build camaraderie. Yet many students struggle to build \nstrong friendships during their transitional middle school and high \nschool years. If your student is passionate about tech or robotics, \njoining a club can be an excellent choice socially. Many students say \nthis is their favorite part of joining a robotics club.<br>\n&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nontraditional team activity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids and teens gain many social and psychological benefits from \nengaging in team sports. Yet traditional sports aren\u2019t every child\u2019s cup\n of tea, right? Robotics teams provide the same opportunity for students\n to strengthen leadership skills, learn to cooperate with others, \nimprove social interaction skills, better regulate emotions, and learn \nthe highs and lows of competing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scholarships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This benefit is for both your child <em>and<\/em> your bank account. \nJoining a robotics club can open the door to many scholarship \nopportunities for your child. Many of the robotics competition \norganizations offer their own scholarships, and in addition, the skills \nyour student learns will make him or her more likely to qualify for \nother robotics-related scholarships offered by colleges or private \ncompanies. FIRST Robotics alone <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstinspires.org\/robotics\/frc\/start-a-team\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">boasts<\/a> $30 million in scholarships available to their participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A few things to keep in mind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While robotics clubs have numerous benefits (much more than we\u2019ve \neven outlined above), there are a few considerations you should make \nbefore jumping into a competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The time investment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Our kids\u2019 schedules are already jam-packed with school, \nextracurriculars, sleepovers, and other occasions that require you to \nshuttle them around. If your student is already committed to a lot of \nafter-school activities, you might want to nurture your child\u2019s passion \nfor robotics with short-term commitments, like our robotics summer \ncamps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keeping tech fun<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some kids love the thrill of waiting to see how their robot will \nperform at the competition. For others students, these moments can bring\n about unwanted stress and might ultimately strip the fun and excitement\n out of building robots. You know your child best, so think about how \nthey respond to judging and competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just remember: some discomfort helps us all grow, so don\u2019t be afraid \nof a little disappointment or adversity. Those moments could ultimately \nmotivate your student to dream up the next world-changing robot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dive into robotics with iD Tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Robotics camps can be a great way to get your child excited about \nthis fun sport and set them up for success in the competition season. \nDuring each session, students work together to build a robot, and then \nlearn to program it to compete in fun challenges\u2014a great introduction to\n the world of robotics competitions. Be sure to check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/paths\/robotics\">robotics camps for kids and teens<\/a> nationwide; here are a few courses to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/courses\/code-a-bot-ai-and-robotics-with-cozmo\">Code-a-Bot: AI and Robotics with Your Own Cozmo<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/courses\/ai-lab-robotics-and-coding-with-cozmo\">Robo Squad: Robotics and AI with Your Own Cozmo<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/courses\/robocoder-lego-robotics-and-visual-programming\">RoboCoder: LEGO Robotics and Visual Programming<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/courses\/robotics-and-visual-programming-lab-with-vex\">Robotics and Visual Programming Lab with VEX<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/courses\/robotics-engineering-and-coding-lab-with-vex\">Robotics Engineering and Coding Lab with VEX<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/courses\/robotics-engineering-and-coding-lab\">Autonomous and Self-Driving Robotics Lab<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Robotics resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ready for your child to reap the benefits of joining a robotics team?\n Check out these helpful websites to find a robotics club near you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstinspires.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FIRST<\/a>: Find clubs and competitions for K-12 students nationwide<\/li><li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vexrobotics.com\/vexedr\/competition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">VEX Robotics Competitions<\/a>:&nbsp;We use VEX robotics kits at camp!<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/robotics.nasa.gov\/events\/competitions.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NASA Robotics Alliance Project<\/a><\/li><li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/paths\/robotics\/\">Robotics at iD Tech<\/a>:&nbsp;Build skills, gain hands-on experience, and develop a project<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Robot_competition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wikipedia&#8217;s List of Robotics Competitions<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From: https:\/\/www.idtech.com\/blog\/should-your-child-join-a-robotics-team The short answer is a resounding &#8220;yes!&#8221; In honor of National Robotics Week, we spend the majority of this post diving into the benefits of joining a robotics team or club! But first, here\u2019s a brief overview of &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.dankohn.info\/index.php\/2019\/01\/18\/why-join-a-robotics-club-or-team-in-middle-or-high-school-id-tech\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.dankohn.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4021","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.dankohn.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.dankohn.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dankohn.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dankohn.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4021"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dankohn.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4021\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4732,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dankohn.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4021\/revisions\/4732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.dankohn.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dankohn.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.dankohn.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}