Botball
Botball is a robotics education program that helps students develop the skills they need to build and control amazing robots. Botball runs a series of competitions that begin locally and progress to regional and international levels.
The Botball® Educational Robotics Program engages middle and high school aged students in a team-oriented robotics competition, and serves as a perfect way to meet today’s new common core standards. In January, February, and March, the Botball Educator Workshops provide team leaders and mentors with technology training and introduce the details of that year’s game. Then, after a build period of about 7 weeks, students bring their robots to their regional tournament to compete against other students in the current season’s game challenge. Students compete regionally and internationally. Think about bringing Botball to your school!
How do I get started? Click here.
How do I expand this narrative arc? If robotics is part of your narrative arc you might consider one of the many national robotics competitions, each of which involves different rules, parameters and prizes. For example:
Build something socially useful in the Firefighting Robot Competition
For something a little less competitive but no less fun, check out RoboFest.
There are also some interesting marine-based robotics programs where individuals and teams compete to build remotely operated vehicles to explore underwater environments.
HOT TIP: Robotics competitions that are led by a teacher or coach are a great way for you to develop a mentoring relationship with an adult who can comment on your academic and personal strengths. Often teachers in the classroom don’t have insight into things like how a student adapts to challenges and works with a team. Learn as much as you can from your teacher/coach and remember that this is a great “vehicle” for developing a solid college or job recommendation.