National Robotics Week is April 9-17, so put on your creative caps and begin thinking about what you and your kids can design. The PBS television show Design Squad Nation serves up a myriad of ideas, daily. Show co-hosts Adam Vollmer and Judy Lee take you on a creative ride, allowing kids of all ages to have fun, while exploring and designing, often the un-imaginable! Watch the show locally on WVIZ/PBS HD Tuesday evenings at 7:30.
A Cleveland-area teacher has taken the Design Squad concept to the classroom. Westlake High School teacher Scott Kutz teaches Technical Drawing and Design class. Teaching the class for two years, Kutz is working with the school district to make it a graduation requirement.
Recently, I spoke with Kutz by phone and via internet live chat, with the Design Squad Nation's Adam Vollmer and Judy Lee. All agree that more emphasis needs to be placed on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education in our schools. Studies show the United States students lag behind other nations in STEM.
President Obama has launched an “Educate to Innovate” campaign to improve the participation and performance of America’s students in STEM. This campaign includes efforts from the Federal Government, leading companies, foundations, non-profits, and science and engineering societies to work with young people across America to excel in science and math.
Scott Kutz says when he first learned about Design Squad Nation, he checked out one of the show's online workshops. "I thought--this is perfectly suited for what we're doing [in the classroom] because we teach about math and science through engineering."
Kutz says enrollment has doubled since he first offered the Design class. Freshmen through seniors are taking the class and girls are enrolling, recognizing that the class isn't just a "guy thing."
Some of the student's creations--building a two-man kayak, and a boat that resembled a cruise ship. "I get here at 7 in the morning and the kids beat me here. They're in the classroom working on projects."
It's a sure sign that Kutz has captured his students' interest.
Design Squad Nation's co-hosts Adam Vollmer and Judy Lee aim to do the same each day. Both engineers, they've built a robotic cake and designed a portable garden, among many other cool inventions.
"The show gears kids to think about how they view the world," said Judy. "Hey, I'm going out there and challenge this method and take steps 1, 2, 3. It's a way to explore."
Both hosts became interested in science at a young age. Judy loved to take things apart to see how they worked. Adam was a fanatical LEGO builder as a kid, but he never connected that to science until he applied for college. "At that point [college], I think I put together the pieces of how my interest in science, my enthusiasm for problem solving, and my love of building and tinkering made engineering a natural subject to study," said Adam.
Often, math is one of those subjects that students shy away from in school. Judy and Adam believe if kids could see how math connects to the outcome--an awesome gadget or toy that they design--then students would come to appreciate math, even if they don't love it.
During National Robotics Week, schools will highlight the vital need for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. The week also will:
- Celebrate the US as a leader in robotics technology development
- Educate the public about how robotics technology impacts society, both now and in the future
- Advocate for increased funding for robotics technology research and development
- Inspire students of all ages to pursue careers in robotics and other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math-related (STEM) fields
- Robotics technology is a growing industry, which creates high-tech jobs in the US
- Robotics technologies are helping to improve healthcare, national defense, homeland security, energy, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, agriculture, education, consumer goods, and many other sectors
- Robotics provides an exciting, hands-on way for students to learn Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
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