When robotic elements are introduced into programs aimed at at-risk students, drop-out rates are reduced by 80%, studies have shown.
Boys and girls involved in robotic competitions and exposed to robotics in school curriculum are 27% more likely to choose science and engineering careers according to an ongoing study.
Corporate executives named robotics as one of the top five career opportunities in America.
These factors drive the mission of the National Robotics Education Foundation (NREF).
The vision of the NREF is to promote the inclusion of robotic elements into the curriculum in grades 1-12 throughout America and to advise those abroad.
In 2015 we were fortunate to bring on board as our Executive Director Thomas Atwood, founding editor of Robot magazine.
Under his guidance the NREF is actively promoting robotics through a series of initiatives that include:
1) Expand NREF.org website into a multi-platform information exchange open to students, parents, educators, and stakeholders.
2) Add to its distinguished panel of advisors, which already includes many influential robotics leaders.
3) Build our patron list of industry and education organizations.
4) Publish in 2016 a quarterly peer review, Journal of Robotics Education, and anchor it at an educational institution.
5) Conduct and sponsor research to encourage robotics curricula adoption.
6) Produce a monthly podcast, Robo Radio(available on the NREF website) featuring experts in the field.
7) Convene a national conference on robotics education in 2016.
8) Launch an ambitious public relations campaign to heighten public awareness of the important role robotics can make in the educational process.
According to JoAnn M. Laing, NREF’s chair, “Robotics is an exciting opportunity today and tomorrow for students and educators. We need to help them achieve success.”
Anyone interested in participating or helping in this exciting venture should contact Tom Atwood at [email protected].
The National Robotics Education Foundation
By Don Mazzella