STEM Teaching Young Engineers Robotics with Legos

From game design to making robots, students K through 12 are learning how to shape the future.
 
The STEM program at NDSU helps young minds unlock opportunities.

The STEM program is all about helping students find their passion for science and technology.

Teachers say while it looks like fun and games, students are gaining experience which can help them find their future careers in engineering.
 
What might look like playtime to some is actually a mechanics lesson.
 
“They are going to be making levers, pulleys, sweeper, and then there’s a pneumatic arm, so on the last day, they are able to make, after all of the stuff we’ve introduced, they get to make their own,” STEM Kids Instructor Meaghan Kirsch says.
 
Making robots out of Legos, these young engineers are using their minds to learn the basics of robotics.

Some of them, like 5th grader Andrew Schwengler, say they want to pursue robotics when they grow up.

“Really, multi-purpose robots just to help people do things,” Schwengler says.

It’s more than just a fun summer camp, teachers say these lessons will help them out in the long run.
 
“In the last couple years that I have started to teach this, I can see that their brains are thinking completely differently than they were before when we were just sitting there, doing paper to pencil,” Kirsch says.
 
And even though the levers may look basic, Kirsch says it’s the first step for these kids to change the world.
 
“I told them today that they were going to be engineers, and they all had a huge smile on their faces. They are usually those kids that are constantly thinking and improving on how they can make things better,” Kirsch says.
 
The students are expected to unveil their robot projects later this week.

We will bring you that story here on KVRR Local News at Nine on Thursday.