Generation NXT

Abstract

We describe the initiation of a robotics based engineering outreach program geared toward elementary school and middle school students. Students playfully learn engineering concepts such as brainstorming, designing, building, testing, trouble shouting, repeatability, and improving their design using the programmable LEGOreg Mindstormsreg NXT kits. They test their design in competitions between different teams from a school and teams from different schools. We offer paid mentor positions to Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering freshman students to help the school teams. We also provide opportunities for teacher training to elementary and middle school teachers and provide them with the necessary kits and hardware. We also offer similar courses through Texas Tech University in form of Super Saturdays (students spend 4 Saturday mornings on Campus) or residential summer camps as well as through a local community center. In this way, students who were exposed to LEGOreg robotics at school can continue this activity during their spare time.