Robotics Joy

After six weeks of heavy practice and preparation, the robotics tournament happened! Many people do not realize that the FLL is a tournament with three rubrics the kids must fulfill. The first is the MISSION where they program robots. The second is the PROJECT where they come up with a solution to an open ended real life problem. The third is CORE VALUES where they show team work and gracious professionalism.

Our team was so green the sap was dripping from us. Our project was wonderful, but not technological. Our missions were 80% successful...some of the time. Our team is composed of people who had just met. We had no idea how this was going to turn out.

After an hour at the competition, Marina turned to me and said, "This is amazing! I want to do it every year!" I don't blame her. Adding a competition aspect to the intense learning and creating that the students did makes the experience authentic and real in a way beyond regular classroom learning. I think Marina's new friends felt the same way because all of them were ready to sign up again next year before the competition had even begun.

Our team came in 10th for the missions. Our team did ok with core values.

Our team won the trophy for their project which was designed to help seniors deal with loneliness by setting them up with play dates with young people. It is hard to describe the joy and excitement they felt when their team name was called and they found out they won a trophy!

I am so proud of these kids and their enthusiasm and their sportsmanship!

In a side note

Yesterday, we completed our robotics season by taking our trophy to long term care to show our senior mentors. As the kids talked about their experience, the three seniors who had come to listen to their talk all fell asleep. Marina turned to me and said, "I think we should stop this presentation. We don't want to wake them."

I love these kids, and I love robotics!