The Cook Library Scholars Discover the Magic of Robotics

If you come into the Cook Library Center on a Wednesday afternoon, you will find several students huddled together poring over the pieces of a future robot.

In January the Cook Library Scholars began a new robotics program for two hours each week. Helping to boost the students’ understanding of math and science concepts, this class focuses on something that appeals to all ages: putting together pieces that look like legos and and then seeing if the robotic contraptions work.

Andrew Abissi, a high school teacher at Innovation Central, is leading the class with focused lessons each week. Andrew has facilitated a partnership with GR Makers to generously loan the robotics materials for the Cook Library Scholars classes.

Abissi began the first session by asking the question, “If you could create any type of robot, what kind would you build?” A few of the scholars’ reactions included creating a robot to do homework or to shovel snow. The students have been hooked since that question was posed. Abissi creates an environment where the scholars are active participants in their learning and solve problems in a group. He states that "using robots as a tool is a natural fit for sparking children's interests while absorbing meaningful content."

“This program has so many benefits. Seeing the scholars work in teams, think outside the box, while strengthening their STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills is vitally important today and for the future,” said Sue Garza, Director of the Cook Library Center. “With this new robotics component our students are able to experience firsthand the joy of the STEM concepts in a new, engaging, and interactive way.”

The scholars have worked hard figuring out the concepts of cause and effect that program or move a robot. Since January the Cook Library Scholars have built their own robots in teams and have integrated them with tablets or phones to control their new contraptions.

Abissi expressed that he would like to see the scholars walk away from this class feeling confident in their problem solving skills and passionate to learn more about STEM. It is evident from the enthusiasm of the scholars that the robots have been more than a teacher - - they have been the catalyst for making STEM magic happen at the Cook Library Center.