Building Teen Futures with Underwater Robotics

Abstract

Preparing young Americans with science and technology skills has been on the forefront of educational reform for several years, and Extension has responded. Robotics projects have become a natural fit for 4-H clubs, with members' experiences ranging from using Lego® Mindstorms® and other "purchase and assemble" robotics kits to building and programming robots from raw materials. This article addresses one such club's impacts on educational engagement, career trajectory, and life skills development. An annotated resource list for engaging youth in building underwater robots is provided in the Tools of the Trade article "Resources for Underwater Robotics Education" in this issue of the Journal of Extension.

Survey of Educational Robotics Applications in Secondary Education

“…One study reviewed how 4H Clubs across America were educating their members about robotics and other STEM topics by creating robotics clubs. 33 The goal was simply to introduce the club members to these topics with the hope that they would pursue careers combining robotics and agricultural sciences. Many maker spaces operate on similar ideas of cross-functional environments; the mixing of technologies provides a unique opportunity for users to explore processes they may not have been otherwise aware of.…”