October 2007

Robotics Program Provides Hands-On Learning for ESHS Students The robotics program at El Segundo High School connects high school students with volunteer mentors from local corporations to provide kids an interesting and educational outlet where they can apply their knowledge of physics and develop an interest in engineering-related careers. Physics and Earth Sciences teacher Tina Hawley, advisor to the program, serves as a liaison between the students and their corporate mentors. "This program is an opportunity for them to directly apply their classroom learning. It's great to see them in front of the class, writing on the board and explaining what they are learning to the other kids. It really makes physics come alive and, as a teacher, it's neat to see my lessons being applied directly to what they have to accomplish with the robot," she says. During the school year, the team participates in two competitive events which are designed by a committee of engineers and other professionals. In the fall they build one small table-top robot, the VEX robot, which is about the size of a remote control car, and in January they gear up for six intense weeks of planning, research, and preparation to build a larger robot for entry into the competition. In addition to building a functional robot, teams are rewarded for excellence in design, team spirit, gracious professionalism and maturity and their ability to overcome obstacles. The competition challenges teams to build a robot that will solve a common problem. They must build it in a six-week timeframe using a standard "kit of parts" and a common set of rules and restrictions. "The building season is intense," says Tina. They begin the first weekend in January and work consistently over the next six weeks, meeting once a week at lunch and many days after school with the mentors. The kids spend two full three-day weekends working 12-hour days to get the project completed by the deadline. "We try to make it a fun working environment with lunch and music. The mentors have a great time too," says Tina. "When they first received the kit last year, it looked to me like a bunch of scrap parts, like logos or tinker toys," says Tina. "But they go crazy over it and get really excited. The mentors get really excited too." They have a strict deadline date by which the robot must be packed and shipped to the competition site. They must also design and build the crate and protective material to ship their robot safely to the competition. In their rookie year, the team placed seventh with the large robot, and last year they placed second in the VEX competition. Currently, Xerox, the Air Force and Northrop Grumman each provide mentors for the program. The mentors are generally young engineers with a desire to give back to kids just like someone probably did for them when they were in high school. Although the mentors make suggestions along the way, they allow the students to lead the effort as much as possible. "The mentors are phenomenal in the way they work with the students. Last year they noticed that the kids weren't sure how to use all the power tools, so this year we're holding power tool classes in which the mentors will come in and teach them how to use our equipment," shares Tina. The robotics program is open to the entire school, although the majority of participants are from the junior and senior physics classes. Tina is working to get the word out about the program, developing a website and making plans to bring the robot out during lunch time so kids can see what they are doing. She also hopes to incorporate students from the middle school as well in the near future. "We want it to be fun as well as educational. It's a great way for kids to learn and have fun in the process," she says.