On October 29, Georgia Tech’s K-12 InVenture Prize/Georgia AIM team, in collaboration with Southern Regional Technical College and the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission, hosted the inaugural pre-FIRST LEGO League regional practice session in Bainbridge, with over 20 students from Decatur, Grady, Miller, and Thomas counties participating.
Georgia Tech’s K-12 InVenture Prize/Georgia AIM team worked with partners at Southern Regional Technical College and the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission to launch the inaugural pre-FIRST LEGO League southwest Georgia regional practice session in Bainbridge on Oct. 29. More than 20 students participated in the event, traveling from schools in Decatur, Grady, Miller, and Thomas counties to take part in the competition.
The event is the first for the newly established Southwest Georgia regional FIRST LEGO League Challenge. Georgia Tech is the affiliate partner for FIRST LEGO League Challenge with the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC) facilitating the program for the state of Georgia. FIRST LEGO League introduces STEM learning to children ages 4-16 through fun, exciting hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided global robotics program using LEGO technology, helping today’s students, families, and educators build a better future together.
Participating workshop teachers focused on building student STEM skills in preparation for participating in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge competition. The workshop focused on teaching students coding and other current STEM skills needed to participate in the competition as well as launch students into high-tech careers in their communities.
“With so many manufacturers and high-tech opportunities opening in Southwest Georgia, it’s important to have students engaging now in building the skills they will need to get those good, high-paying industry jobs in the near future,” said Danyelle Larkin, director of K-12 InVenture Prize. “We see this program as an anchor for the region, establishing a STEM school-to-manufacturing pathway that will strengthen the communities in this part of the state. So, yes, this is a robotics competition, but it is really more than that. It’s something that has the potential to uplift entire communities. And that is pretty cool.”
The inaugural FIRST LEGO League Challenge will be held on December 14 at Southern Regional Technical College in Thomasville.
—Randy Trammell, CEISMC Communications