The boys filed into Mr. Tyler’s classroom and went to the giant shelves of LEGO Robotics Kits and found their projects. The boys all broke off into their respective groups that Mr. Tyler assigned and began to work. Using PDFs guides and Mr. Tyler’s assistance they added onto their robots. Color sensors, coasters, and different types of arms are some of the objects they began to figure out to attach.
Two years ago, Andrew Tyler, the technology teacher, decided to start the LEGO Robotics Club at AEMS. Andrew Tyler teaches technology at AEMS for Kindergarten through eighth graders. His idea for the club was kickstarted by the help of Woody Flowers, a speaker at one of Proctor’s commencements, that gave the school enough money to buy three starter kits. Later that year, he was watching the news and saw grants for LEGO Robotics. Mr. Tyler explains his path to getting funding, “I tried to research grants to have material for class as well as a club. Halfway through last year I got a grant that gave us twenty kits for building plus other accessories.”
LEGO Robotics is a club for students at AEMS grade 5 through 8th grade. What the boys do is build robots from LEGO robot kits to perform certain tasks on a playing field. The boys do everything from building the playing field props to coding the robots. In November, there is a competition for multiple schools that Mr. Tyler’s club will be attending. At this competition, the boys will have their robots complete tasks on the playing table. The boys can code their robots to pick up items, stop on certain colored tiles, and push props across the table. Because working together is crucial as well, the team will be presented with teamwork themed challenges to complete in front of judges.
The AEMS Robotics Club doesn’t have an issue with getting kids interested. Mr. Tyler leads about fourteen boys and fuels their passion for LEGO Robotics. Andrew Tyler has had no problem getting interest, “we started last year with only eight meetings lasting an hour but now we have two hour meetings every week. The students even wanted to start a week early”. With the intense interest in the club, it lacks one thing, girls. Girls in STEM has always been a hot topic but Mr. Tyler is planning to combat it, “A lot of girls were pulled away from this club because of sports. Also, when girls hear LEGO Robotics they think boys. I want them to think differently about the club and I’m planning on getting more interest through in-class demonstrations with the robots”.
Watching all the boys work in their small groups and collaborate was impressive. Mr. Tyler guides all the boys to work together respectfully to complete tasks. The age gap between 5th graders and 8th graders doesn’t seem to be an issue; they all share one thing in common and that is their interest in building robots.
Mr. Tyler has brought something special to AEMS. LEGO Robotics will prepare his students for their future even if it’s not STEM related. Mr. Tyler represents what the FLL (FIRST LEGO League) is trying to instill, teamwork and problem-solving. The resources given to AEMS are without a doubt used to their fullest potential in the club and class time.