-
Osceola Science Charter School students compete at the VEX World Championship in Dallas over the summer. PHOTO/OSCEOLA SCIENCE CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Whether they’re in a science fiction novel, an action motion picture or executing everyday tasks, the robots of today are a part our future.
That is what Osceola Science Charter School is teaching tomorrow’s generation of creators.
“Robotics is something I believe is very important for the future of humanity, and the people working in the field of technology helps achieve that future,” said Sakura Takehara, an eighth grade student at Osceola Science Charter School. “All the engineers, programmers, computer scientists and all the other people working in technology started from somewhere to get where they are now.”
Since a student with robotics knowledge and strong technical skills will have a significant advantage in tomorrow’s job market — whether or not they pursue a collegiate computer science track — the VEX robotics program at Osceola Science Charter gives students hands-on experience in applying essential Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) concepts to real-world problems.
Middle school students are introduced to procedural thinking, pattern recognition and algorithm design to come up with a step-by-step strategy for solving a problem. Students can learn how to program their own robots to move, make noise, light up and follow other instructions as directed.
Osceola Science Charter School’s Robotics Program was established in 2019, spearheaded by lead coaches Curtis McDaniel, PLTW instructor with a background in Visual Arts and programming, and Christine Leikness, STEM instructor with a background in aerospace programming.
“These kids are the greatest to work with. Ever since 2019, being able to watch them grow and all the hard work they put into their robots really shows,” McDaniel said. “It does really go to show especially with them placing 5th in the world which was an emotional experience just knowing the work put into it all.”
The students on the school’s “Tech Titans” dedicate two hours after school and on Saturdays for this program, easily putting in 15-18 hours weekly, excluding competitions while maintaining high grades.
“We couldn’t do this with out the parents. They have to make sure the kids are where they need to be and they help us (coaches) with anything along the way,” McDaniel said. “My son has always enjoyed robotics and the challenges it presents to be able to solve real-world problems. They’re another way to keeping him engaged and excited to keep on learning.
“He is a seventh grader now and has been involved in robotics for seven years, and I’ve seen my child grow, not only with his expertise in coding or building, but also confidence, public speaking and being creative. That’s why we invest our time and resources to support the VEX robotics teams.”
This summer, the school’s robotics students had the opportunity to travel to three major events, including the 2022 VEX Robotics World Championship IQ Challenge in Dallas, where they ranked fifth in the world.
“I enjoy working with a team to create a robot. You compete with yourself, your friends and the other competitors,” said eighth-grader Nathaniel St. Louis. “With yourself, your teammates and your coaches, you can go very far. Our coaches helped us throughout all our competitions and allowed us to make it to the state and world championships.
“I want to be a biomedical engineer and robotics will be a big part of helping me reach my goal.”
Follow the students of the Osceola Science Charter School’s robotic program at https://osceolascience.org.
