Arkansas students learn robotics skills

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 13:30:30 +0000

A new summer camp at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock introduced more than 30 Arkansas students to the exciting world of robotics competitions. The camp, held July 31 to Aug. 4, taught students how to build and program robots as well as how to compete in VEX IQ robotics competitions. VEX IQ is a snap-together robotics system designed from the ground up to provide educational opportunities to future engineers of all skill levels. The VEX IQ program, which is for elementary school students, is the predecessor for robotics competitions at the middle school/high school (VEX EDR) and university (VEX U) levels. Sandra Leiterman, math specialist in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Educational Center, led the camp. She is the coach of the only VEX U robotics team in Arkansas as well as the coach of two teams at Mills High School. Leiterman hopes that by introducing students to robotics before junior high school, she will encourage them to pursue STEM-related careers. She also hopes the summer camp will lead to more schools starting robotics teams. “We thought it would be a great way to introduce robotics to elementary students who don’t have robotics teams at their schools, and it promotes an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education,” Leiterman said. “We hope these students will go back to their teachers and ask them to start robotics teams in their schools.” Neva Dagtas of Little Rock was excited to attend the camp to learn engineering and robotics skills. “I like building robots, and I love the way you can control the robots and make it do things autonomously,” Dagtas said. Dagtas and her team partner, Natalie Tyler, a sixth-grader from Maumelle, said it took a lot of ingenuity and online research to get their robot, which they named Walle Jr., to work. “We were missing so many parts,” Tyler said. “The chips were different. When we tried to make the controller work, it didn’t.” Their efforts paid off, as Dagtas and Tyler won the camp’s robotics competition for fifth- and sixth-graders. “After all the struggles you’ve been through, it’s a really happy moment in your life,” Dagtas said. Clare Quaid, a Mills High School senior who is a member of an all-girls robotics team coached by Leiterman, was one of 10 high school and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock college students who volunteered to introduce the students to the world of robotics. “Being on a robotics team is very empowering,” said Quaid, who added that she is a distant cousin of actor Dennis Quaid. “At first, I didn’t want to go into a STEM field, but now I see how much girls are needed in STEM fields. Robotics empowered me to make a change.” Participants included:

��Zamari Ball of North Little Rock, fourth-grader at North Little Rock Catholic
��Granger Colclasure of Little Rock, third-grader at Episcopal Collegiate
��Mia Colclasure of Little Rock, fifth-grader at Episcopal Collegiate
��Leonardo Cruz of Little Rock, fourth-grader at Forest Park Elementary
��Tristen Cunningham of Little Rock, fifth-grader at Episcopal Collegiate
��Neva Dagtas of Little Rock, sixth-grader at Huda Academy
��Kaan Dagtas of Little Rock, fourth-grader at Huda Academy
��Eric Carmona Garcia of Little Rock, third-grader at Baseline Academy
��Tyler Goodman of Jacksonville, sixth-grader at Bayou Meto Elementary
��Naia Green of Little Rock, fifth-grader at Christ Lutheran School
��DeAndre James of Little Rock, sixth-grader at Meadowcliff Elementary
��Amelia Johnson of Bryant, fifth-grader at Springhill Elementary
��Kenyon Key of North Little Rock, fourth-grader at Abundant Life School
��Connor Lloyd of Little Rock, sixth-grader at Lisa Academy
��Christian Mack of Lake Hamilton, fifth-grader at Lake Hamilton Elementary
��Fernanda Martinez of North Little Rock, fifth-grader at Lisa Academy North
��Vania Martinez of North Little Rock, third-grader at Lisa Academy North
��Chloe Mitchell of North Little Rock, third-grader at Arkansas School for the Blind
��Mason Mitchell of North Little Rock, sixth-grader at Lakewood Elementary
��Alex Moore of Mabelvale, fifth-grader at Davis Elementary
��Rafeal Morgan of Little Rock, fourth-grader at Forest Heights STEM Academy
��Nam Nguyen of Little Rock, fourth-grader at Forest Park Elementary
��Roger Quad of Bigelow, sixth-grader at Anne Watson
��Ryker Quaid of Bigelow, fourth-grader at Anne Watson
��Nikhil Shanmugam of Little Rock, third-grader at Williams Magnet
��Dishant Sharma of Little Rock, sixth-grader at Baker Elementary
��Shriish Sathish of Little Rock, third-grader at Chenal Elementary
��Davontae Taylor of Lake Hamilton, fourth-grader at Lake Hamilton Elementary
��Natalie Tyler of Maumelle, sixth-grader at Pine Forest Elementary
��Matthew Wiebelhaus-Brahm of Benton, fourth-grader at Springhill Elementary
��Samuel Wiebelhaus-Brahm of Benton, third-grader at Springhill
��Bradyn Wilkerson of Bigelow, East End Elementary
Sheriff Wolfe of Little Rock, third-grader at Pulaski Heights Elementary

In the upper right photo, Neva Dagtas (middle) of Little Rock celebrates as her robot, “Walle Jr.,” wins the robotics camp competition for fifth and sixth graders. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications.

eStem, ��Vlog��ýLR break ground for new high school

Shanna Fitzgerald — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 22:09:28 +0000

Work is underway on an innovative partnership that will bring eStem High School to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus. About a year after announcing the project, ��Vlog��ýLR and eStem Public Charter Schools hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday. Starting with the next school year, the collaboration will provide new opportunities to eStem students, while breathing life into one of the university’s original buildings. “��Vlog��ýLR has a history of collaborating with central Arkansas school districts, and this partnership fits well with the university’s goal of preparing students to succeed in higher education and the workforce of tomorrow,” said Zulma Toro, ��Vlog��ýLR executive vice chancellor and provost. Leaders at eStem plan to renovate and expand Larson Hall on the ��Vlog��ýLR campus by the 2017-18 school year and add high school classrooms at a nearby existing building, Ross Hall, for the 2021-22 school year. The collaboration clears the way for eStem, a tuition-free public charter school that operates on an enrollment lottery system, to add students. “Since we opened our doors, eStem has provided a unique learning environment that encourages innovation – both inside and outside of the classroom – and our students have thrived,” said John Bacon, CEO of eStem. “Now, through this strategic partnership, we will be able to expand this opportunity to more students.”

Officials from eStem and ��Vlog��ýLR break ground during a ceremony at the future site of eStem High School. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ýLR Communications

A benefit for eStem’s high school students will be the option of taking college-level courses and learning from some of the leading scholars in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields without leaving campus. While taking college-credit courses, the students also will have an opportunity to earn an associate degree in high school. “We welcome partnerships that benefit students and the Arkansas economy,” said ��Vlog��ýLR Chancellor Andrew Rogerson. “We think this collaboration has great potential for central Arkansas.” The preliminary plan announced in August 2015 involved the construction of a new building on 28th Street and a smaller-scale renovation of Larson Hall, but that plan changed. After further study, officials determined that working with existing buildings was a better option for the project. Leaders at the public charter school expect the high school’s enrollment to grow to 1,125 students at the ��Vlog��ýLR location by the 2026-27 school year. Once completed, the renovated and expanded Larson Hall facility will be about 50,000 square feet and will include 31 classrooms, three chemistry labs, two physical science labs and two computer labs. A $11.4 million no-interest loan from the Walton Family Foundation is financing the eStem renovation and construction project designed by in Little Rock. The project is subject to ��Vlog��ýLR’s review to “assure architectural compatibility with the university campus.” Under the terms of a 30-year lease, eStem will pay ��Vlog��ýLR $1 annually. The university will benefit from the improvements eStem makes to the property and from having the additional students and teachers on campus. The charter school will be responsible for insurance, as well as shared service expenses. Image in upper right is an artist rendering of the future eStem High School, courtesy of Witsell Evans & Rasco Architects-Planners.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

Arkansas students learn robotics skills

eStem, ����Vlog��ýLR break ground for new high school

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

eStem, ��Vlog��ýLR break ground for new high school