FIRST® Robotics Competitions are for students in grades 9-12. The mission of FIRST is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills; inspire innovation; and foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.
Check out this video from FIRST® Robotics to find out more about this organization!
Guided by two or more adult coaches, FIRST LEGO League teams (up to 10 members, grades 4-8) research a real-world problem such as food safety, recycling, energy, etc., and are challenged to develop a solution. They also must design, build, and program a robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS®; then compete on a table-top playing field. It all adds up to tons of fun while they learn to apply STEM concepts, plus a big dose of imagination, to solve a problem.
For information regarding FIRST® in Arkansas Robotics, contact State Director, Dana Hobbs, at [email protected], or (603)-3906 5996.
Through participation in Best Robotics’ project-based STEM program, students learn to analyze and solve problems utilizing the Engineering Design Process, which helps them develop technological literacy skills. It is these skills that industry seeks in its workforce. Each fall, over 850 middle and high schools and over 18,000 students participate in the competition.
There are four Best Robotics “Hubs” in Arkansas: Fort Smith, Harrison, Jonesboro, and Little Rock. Fort Smith is the main location at UAFS. For more information, please contact Jason Merritt at [email protected] or (479) 788-7877.
The Botball® Educational Robotics Program engages middle and high school aged students in a team-oriented robotics competition and serves as a perfect way to meet today’s new common core standards. By exposing students to an inquiry-based, learn-by-doing activity that appeals to their hearts as well as their minds, Botball® addresses our nation’s need for a well-prepared, creative, yet disciplined workforce with leadership and teamwork experience.
Oklahoma is the nearest Botball® region.
For more information, please contact Steve Goodgame, Director of the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics, at (405) 579-4609.
The Regional Autonomous Robotics Circuit (RARC) is a competition series that allows students in grades 3-12 to showcase their STEM skills by competing against other teams in dynamic challenges. The hands-on challenges serve a dual purpose: introduce STEM concepts and their many applications and reinforce STEM fundamentals learned in the classroom.
Checkout the Arkansas Competitions for 2019. For more information about participating, contact NICERC at [email protected] or visit their website here.
The VEX Robotics Design System is the exclusive robotics platform offered to PLTW schools, bringing exciting opportunities for students including the chance to take PLTW’s courses that have been updated with rigorous hands-on, project-based robotics lessons.
For more information about Arkansas VEX® Robotics Competitions, contact the Director of the STEM Institute at ATU, Sarah Burnett, at [email protected] or (479) 880-4323.