The hard work of high school students from the Auburn community culminated in two major tournament wins last week, in a FIRST Lego League Regional Tournament at Granville Boys High School. With mentors and LEAP team members from Macquarie cheering them on, the Auburn North 1 team took out the Core Values award, and Granville Boys 2 won the Judge’s Gracious Professionalism prize.
Students from across the region have been taking part in Macquarie’s LEAP Auburn Community of Schools program, which includes a special project to assist local students to perfect their robotic and programming skills - teaching LEGO robots new commands and competing in various missions.
Luan Heimlich (Robotics Coordinator) and Macquarie University student mentors have been assisting students from Auburn North and Auburn Public Schools as well as Year 7 students attending Granville Boys High and Auburn Girls High.
The students have been working with the LEGO NXT’s and experimenting with sequencing to understand how the programming enables the robot to perform certain commands.
“Students assembled their robots in the first lesson and have spent many weeks perfecting the sensors and various functions of the robot,” says Sharon Smithies, LEAP Auburn Community of Schools Program Manager.
“Robotics usage in the classroom is an incredibly effective resource as it empowers students to promote their investigative and planning skills, as well as their testing and implementing skills. Ultimately, each skill ensures that students develop critical thinking awareness. Students can also realise the importance of working things out for themselves and developing confidence in their own learning.”
Staff from the participating schools have also attended training sessions. The goal of these motivating and engaging workshops was to allow teachers to see how they can improve their student’s learning outcomes through the use of robotics.
The Macquarie University LEAP Auburn Community of Schools program began in early 2012, with two key goals.
Firstly, the program aims to broaden aspirations, create possibilities and actively support students from disadvantaged backgrounds with the aim to successfully participate in higher education.
Secondly, it aims to increase the engagement of students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics through school enrichment programs, professional learning support, campus programs and a process of transition and support from school to university.
Students from across the region have been taking part in Macquarie’s LEAP Auburn Community of Schools program, which includes a special project to assist local students to perfect their robotic and programming skills - teaching LEGO robots new commands and competing in various missions.
Luan Heimlich (Robotics Coordinator) and Macquarie University student mentors have been assisting students from Auburn North and Auburn Public Schools as well as Year 7 students attending Granville Boys High and Auburn Girls High.
The students have been working with the LEGO NXT’s and experimenting with sequencing to understand how the programming enables the robot to perform certain commands.
“Students assembled their robots in the first lesson and have spent many weeks perfecting the sensors and various functions of the robot,” says Sharon Smithies, LEAP Auburn Community of Schools Program Manager.
“Robotics usage in the classroom is an incredibly effective resource as it empowers students to promote their investigative and planning skills, as well as their testing and implementing skills. Ultimately, each skill ensures that students develop critical thinking awareness. Students can also realise the importance of working things out for themselves and developing confidence in their own learning.”
Staff from the participating schools have also attended training sessions. The goal of these motivating and engaging workshops was to allow teachers to see how they can improve their student’s learning outcomes through the use of robotics.
The Macquarie University LEAP Auburn Community of Schools program began in early 2012, with two key goals.
Firstly, the program aims to broaden aspirations, create possibilities and actively support students from disadvantaged backgrounds with the aim to successfully participate in higher education.
Secondly, it aims to increase the engagement of students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics through school enrichment programs, professional learning support, campus programs and a process of transition and support from school to university.
