Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Spring 2020 | Page 10

ROBOTICS
REBOOT:
TA Takes the
Next Steps
in Tech
IN THE CLASSROOM
Part of the excitement of
TA’s STEM program is the
fact that it is ever-changing.
Robotics, a course in
the New Media Department,
has recently seen a reboot in both
curriculum and equipment. Last year, a
new face joined the team, and early on
faculty member Arthur Doyle knew it
was time for an upgrade. “The robotics
program benefited for a while from the
Lego robotics kits, but when I took over
last year it was clear we were ready
for an update.” Technology is always
evolving and it is critical to be current,
so Doyle worked with Ben Nasse,
Director of Technology and New Media
Chair, to research trends in robotics
and robotics education, and vet
potential new products and equipment.
“What we’re looking forward to most is
having state-of-the-art hardware that
allows us to execute curriculum that
is dynamic, engaging, and relevant for
students and the kinds of challenges
they will face in the future in this field.
The hardware update and access to a
cutting edge VEX curriculum allows
students to experiment with real-world
challenges in ways we could never have
done with the previous equipment. It
allows us to be forward-thinking, and
to truly prepare students for what is to
come.”
Thornton isn’t new to VEX. Engineering
Principles teacher Chris Hall has been
involved with the VEX platform since
2015 when Thornton’s Robotics Club
began competing against
other schools in the state.
Hall sees opportunities
far beyond the nuts and
bolts of the platform.
“With its focus on learning
by trial and error and
on friendly competition,
students gain experience that will
serve them not only in a field of
engineering, but also in real-life
situations where competitive drive
and cooperative skills are essential.”
This winter, funds raised in
support of TA’s STEM programs
supported the purchase of a full suite
of VEX products, including 12 highly
customizable robot kits and software
with appropriate storage and tools,
along with a reallocation of laptops
designated for the program. This will
allow for far more hands-on time
using the instruments in partnered
and individual projects. The software
is flexible too and scales to the
user’s ability; coding can be learned
through a very visual drag-and-drop
block interface, to more advanced
programming text-based environments
using C++ and RobotC programming
languages.
To ensure the investment is maximized,
and that students get the highest
In February, TA Robotics competed
in the Southern Maine League
Tournament and earned the Judge's
Award for excellence in design,
construction, and programming.
Congratulations!
quality instruction to go along with
this exciting upgrade, professional
development funding has been
allocated for training this summer
through a VEX V5 program at
Carnegie Mellon. The Robotics Club
is also looking forward to a refresh
of their equipment, which can often
get messy, according to club advisor,
Chris Hall. “Like life, robotics can
be messy and unpredictable.
Learning how to navigate the
world of robotics will help
prepare students for a changing
world.”
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Story by Technology and New Media · Photos Courtesy of Ayanah Proulx and Chris Hall.