March 31, 2012
STUDENTS 'RUMBLED' AT FIRST ROBOTICS
More than 50 teams of high school students from Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas competed March 29-31 at the Regional FIRST Robotics competition at the Cox Convention Center, Oklahoma City. FIRST, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is a multinational competition that pairs professionals and young people to solve an engineering design problem and compete.
This year's competition, Rebound Rumble, was a robotics game played between two Alliances of three teams each. Each Alliance competed by trying to score as many of the basketballs in the hoops as possible during the 2-minute and 15-second match. Balls scored in higher hoops score Alliances more points. Alliances were awarded bonus points if they are balanced on bridges at the end of the match.
Winning necessitates cooperation among teams that have never met before. Teams of students and their mentors have six weeks to design and build a robot from a standard kit of parts to compete at FIRST regional events under the principles of "gracious professionalism."
"Eighteen teams have ties to CareerTech programs," according to Tina Fugate, STEM and academic specialist, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. "FIRST Robotics is a great opportunity for students in our Pre-Engineering Academies to put their knowledge and skills to use."
The goal of Oklahoma CareerTech STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education is to nurture creative students who are problem solvers, innovators, inventors, logical thinkers, strong communicators and who excel in the areas of math and science. CareerTech STEM initiatives include Pre-Engineering, Biomedical, Biotech and Technology Engineering.
FIRST was founded by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway, in order to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. The organization designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in STEM.
For more information about CareerTech STEM initiatives and the FIRST Robotics competition please visit www.okcareertech.org, STEM or contact Tina Fugate, 405-743-5139
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Robots . . . The Next Generation - Oklahoma Horizon
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