London,
Paris, Barcelona
Rome
Athens, Cairo
Moscow, Bagdad
Bombay, New Dehli
Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong
Tokyo, Central Australia
Hawaii
California
Denver, Castle Rock, Colorado
Chicago, Mexico City, Central America
New York, Havana, Lima
Rome
Athens, Cairo
Moscow, Bagdad
Bombay, New Dehli
Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong
Tokyo, Central Australia
Hawaii
California
Denver, Castle Rock, Colorado
Chicago, Mexico City, Central America
New York, Havana, Lima
Vex Robotics Competition Between District 97's Middle Schools Julian and Brooks Fills the Entire Gymnasium on January 28th
What Leaves Standing Room Only for Robot Geeks, Friends and Family? Vex Robotics Competition.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo
report and commentary
by Ed Vincent
Each year the gymnasium is filled with enthusiastic parents and students, mentors, tutors, teachers, and public officials. This year's tremendous win of the Julian team over the Brooks team 319-95 was allegedly spurned on by their defeat in last year's tournament. Oak Park Education Foundation's 7th annual Vex Robotics competition is a great event that allows children with many varied interests and talents to work together to build, design, support, and control the use of robotics in a competitive environment.
by Ed Vincent
Each year the gymnasium is filled with enthusiastic parents and students, mentors, tutors, teachers, and public officials. This year's tremendous win of the Julian team over the Brooks team 319-95 was allegedly spurned on by their defeat in last year's tournament. Oak Park Education Foundation's 7th annual Vex Robotics competition is a great event that allows children with many varied interests and talents to work together to build, design, support, and control the use of robotics in a competitive environment.
Volunteers setup the objects that will be used by the varied robotic teams.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo
Children
in the competition cannot be given out right assistance in the design
of their products, but they can discuss issues and problems with their
team mentors, that include older and
wiser folks with more experience. The
Socratic method can be implemented to help direct the thinking of the young designers. That way the students think by themselves but can be guided by the questions asked. Even though Socrates was killed by the State in ancient times, his thinking helped the young Julian team to their great success.
Socratic method can be implemented to help direct the thinking of the young designers. That way the students think by themselves but can be guided by the questions asked. Even though Socrates was killed by the State in ancient times, his thinking helped the young Julian team to their great success.
Design Winner and Robot Paparazzi abound.
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These young adults may someday help design space missions, some perhaps in the nano world.
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Oak Park District 97 Superintendent Dr. Al Roberts and Oak Park and River Forest High School History Department Chairman Rich Mertz discuss some
elements of Education and the role of VEX robotics.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo
This
event gets all of the kids involved with the team effort, and yet it is
not for everyone. There are more boys than girls and kids who do
better in the area of science, but a good curiosity is all that is
needed to get on a team-and a willingness to work with others.
Julian participants observe their teams play and note their gains.
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Peter Sagal and one of his talented daughters, Rosin.
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Peter
Sagal and his family have been supporters and contestants in this drama
of people with machines for years. Just as the VEX robotics games
were in play I asked Mr. Sagal if he should not be the studio since his
show "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" was currently on the air over PBS.
He informed me that the taping for the show was on Thursday nights so
that he can always make it to the VEX robotics events. It is
probably also good for going to the Farmers Market too when it starts
in a few months. Mr. Sagal has also been a big part in helping
the Oak Park Education Foundation raise funds at some of their great
dinners honoring Oak Park residents and their work in Education.
X-Ray Vision enabled Robots dueling with Mozart melody. Actually we were X-Ray enabled and Amadeus did not give his consent to the dispute.
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The game is on and the scores are adding up.
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This seventh grade Lass is holding one of the winning designs
that was used with award winning success in several variations.
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Some of the Julian Winners observing the play in progress and looking for a win.
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This young man might have a good understanding of the value
of numbers as the score shows a win by Julian over Brooks with
a total of 319-95.
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Dr. Al Roberts awards the trophy to Mr. Tim Walsh of the Julian Robotics team.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo
This
event gets better each year and the Oak Park Education Foundation is a
real hero in their work and support for events of this type.
In the two photographs the Julian Robotics team calmly accepts the praise of Dr. Roberts and then once with the trophy in their hands, mayhem is unleashed.
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Dr. Roberts presents award to Dr. Julian Middle School participants and leads the students into a ceremonial handshake conclusion.
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Oak Park and River Forest High School History Department
Chairman Rich Mertz and sons, Eliot and Ben (Ethan and his
wife were here too but not in front of the camera.)
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Kids practice architecture and engineering skills using Legos.
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Youngsters
enjoy the interactive events provided by the Oak Park Education
Foundation's Open House. There were artistic things, robotics,
designs in 2 and 3d, plus lots of adult volunteers and helpers covering
everything from greener ideas for using electricity to just having fun.
Statement from VEX
The VEX Robotics Design System offers students an exciting platform for learning about areas rich with career opportunities spanning science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). These are just a few of the many fields students can explore by creating with VEX Robotics technology. Beyond science and engineering principles, a VEX Robotics project encourages teamwork, leadership and problem solving among groups. It also allows educators to easily customize projects to meet the level of students’ abilities. The affordable VEX platform is expanding rapidly and is now found in middle schools, high schools and university labs around the globe. Robotics hobbyists also appreciate the advanced capabilities of the VEX System.
The VEX Robotics Design System offers students an exciting platform for learning about areas rich with career opportunities spanning science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). These are just a few of the many fields students can explore by creating with VEX Robotics technology. Beyond science and engineering principles, a VEX Robotics project encourages teamwork, leadership and problem solving among groups. It also allows educators to easily customize projects to meet the level of students’ abilities. The affordable VEX platform is expanding rapidly and is now found in middle schools, high schools and university labs around the globe. Robotics hobbyists also appreciate the advanced capabilities of the VEX System.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.