Welcome to Exploring Technology
Home to the 7th & 8th grade Technology Tigers
Mrs. Behnken
TSA Board Member & Advisor, Yearbook AdvisOr
[email protected]
Lake Asbury Junior High School
904-336-5375 ext. 65418 or 65496
Weather Station Link: http://clay.weatherstem.com/lakeasbury
Rules: Be Respectful Be Responsible Be Ready
Supplies: Grades:
Composition Book any color 50% Lab Work
Colored Pencils 30% classwork
Handheld Pencil Sharpener 20% Engineer Notebook
Notebook paper
Graph Paper any size
Ruler with both units of measurement
CTSO: Technology Student Association (TSA)
TSA Curriculum Integration -- Meeting STEM Criteria Through TSA Participation Education directives at the federal and state levels focus on providing avenues for initiatives such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. TSA helps teachers meet the criteria for STEM education goals through exciting programs that include technology activities, competitions, leadership and teamwork for students. In addition, all TSA activities are correlated to the Standards for Technological Literacy, as set forth by the International Technology and Engineering Educators
Association (ITEEA). Teachers can use TSA’s activities during the school day in their classroom and extend the learning beyond the classroom through a TSA chapter.
TSA Curriculum Integration -- Meeting STEM Criteria Through TSA Participation Education directives at the federal and state levels focus on providing avenues for initiatives such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. TSA helps teachers meet the criteria for STEM education goals through exciting programs that include technology activities, competitions, leadership and teamwork for students. In addition, all TSA activities are correlated to the Standards for Technological Literacy, as set forth by the International Technology and Engineering Educators
Association (ITEEA). Teachers can use TSA’s activities during the school day in their classroom and extend the learning beyond the classroom through a TSA chapter.
FTC 2016-2017 Events:
Event Date Day Time Locations:
Kick Off TBD Saturday TBD, Duval Location
Scrimmage October 15th Saturday TBD West Nassau High School - Gymnasium 1 Warrior Drive Callahan, FL 32011
Match Game Play November 9 Wednesday 10:00AM - 4:00 PM Dye Clay Family YMCA 3322 Moody Moody Avenue Orange Park, Florida 32065
Match Game Play December 2 Friday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Dye Clay Family YMCA 3322 Moody Moody Avenue Orange Park, Florida 32065
Meet #1 December 17 Saturday TBD
Match Game Play January 10 Tuesday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Dye Clay Family YMCA 3322 Moody Moody Avenue Orange Park, Florida 32065
Judgment Day Engineering Notebooks Team Interviews Robot Inspection Field Inspection
January 20th Friday TBD
League Championship January 21 Saturday TBD
Robot Rumble June 1 Thursday 9:00 - 5:00 Clay County Fair Grounds
- Robotics PREPARE STUDENTS FOR 21ST CENTURY JOBS!
It is almost impossible to turn on the television without seeing a reference to STEM Education, or the critical importance of the STEM fields for the future of our economy. Many parents wonder, “What is STEM all about?”, and “How will my child learn about these important career opportunities?”
STEM is the acronym for “Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics”, and it is the catch-phrase used to open the discussion about careers in these fields. As the school district moves toward implementing The Academies of Clay, it is important that students are exposed to these career fields as early as elementary school. One aspect of STEM involves computer programing and robotics.
With the help of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), the school district has been awarded three grants that have provided funding to allow for the start of a robotics program in eleven elementary schools and four junior high schools. Elementary robotics programs began during the 2011-2012 school year. Teachers were trained in robot design and programming, then tasked with returning to their schools to start robotics clubs and competing teams. The district affiliated with the Florida First Lego League (FLL), and became eligible to compete at the local, regional, and state levels. Students began designing, building, and programming robots that navigate their way through missions surrounding a theme. FLL is about more than just programming robots, however. Students also use their robots in the context of a real-world problem for which they research possible solutions. These themes are varied. Since the district has been involved, the themes have been “Senior Solutions”, and “Nature’s Fury”. Student research to find a problem that needs to be addressed in the targeted area, brainstorm and find solutions to real problems. It is even possible for students to develop patents from the innovative work that they do.
Participation in the robotics program enhances the curriculum and provides enrichment and application opportunities. Math concepts are critical in the programming of the robots. The robot must be programmed for every turn and movement. Geometry concepts and measurement are used to specify the robot actions. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are developed as the students continually tweak their programs so that the robot can accurately complete each mission. The programming skills students develop lay the foundation for success when they move into more complex applications. Another critical component of the robotics program involves collaboration, communication and team building. These “soft skills” are identified as critical by business leaders. The robotics program provides the opportunity for students to work as a team, developing, and then later, polishing, those key skills.
Leslee Bryan, District STEM Specialist, sees the clear connection between laying the foundations for interest in robotics and choices they will make as they progress through their school career. “Students at Lakeside Junior researched at length the need for improved protection for fire fighters. After speaking with experts in this field, students are already planning to prototype their solution. I know several of these students will be choosing High School Academies that offer strong STEM content.”
Robotics is spreading beyond the school clubs, through integration into the curriculum, especially through technology classes offered at the elementary schools and junior highs. The robotics program will be moving into several of the high schools beginning with the 2014 – 2015 school year.
—–Kathleen Schofield, Prek-12 Curriculum Coordinator
It is almost impossible to turn on the television without seeing a reference to STEM Education, or the critical importance of the STEM fields for the future of our economy. Many parents wonder, “What is STEM all about?”, and “How will my child learn about these important career opportunities?”
STEM is the acronym for “Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics”, and it is the catch-phrase used to open the discussion about careers in these fields. As the school district moves toward implementing The Academies of Clay, it is important that students are exposed to these career fields as early as elementary school. One aspect of STEM involves computer programing and robotics.
With the help of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), the school district has been awarded three grants that have provided funding to allow for the start of a robotics program in eleven elementary schools and four junior high schools. Elementary robotics programs began during the 2011-2012 school year. Teachers were trained in robot design and programming, then tasked with returning to their schools to start robotics clubs and competing teams. The district affiliated with the Florida First Lego League (FLL), and became eligible to compete at the local, regional, and state levels. Students began designing, building, and programming robots that navigate their way through missions surrounding a theme. FLL is about more than just programming robots, however. Students also use their robots in the context of a real-world problem for which they research possible solutions. These themes are varied. Since the district has been involved, the themes have been “Senior Solutions”, and “Nature’s Fury”. Student research to find a problem that needs to be addressed in the targeted area, brainstorm and find solutions to real problems. It is even possible for students to develop patents from the innovative work that they do.
Participation in the robotics program enhances the curriculum and provides enrichment and application opportunities. Math concepts are critical in the programming of the robots. The robot must be programmed for every turn and movement. Geometry concepts and measurement are used to specify the robot actions. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are developed as the students continually tweak their programs so that the robot can accurately complete each mission. The programming skills students develop lay the foundation for success when they move into more complex applications. Another critical component of the robotics program involves collaboration, communication and team building. These “soft skills” are identified as critical by business leaders. The robotics program provides the opportunity for students to work as a team, developing, and then later, polishing, those key skills.
Leslee Bryan, District STEM Specialist, sees the clear connection between laying the foundations for interest in robotics and choices they will make as they progress through their school career. “Students at Lakeside Junior researched at length the need for improved protection for fire fighters. After speaking with experts in this field, students are already planning to prototype their solution. I know several of these students will be choosing High School Academies that offer strong STEM content.”
Robotics is spreading beyond the school clubs, through integration into the curriculum, especially through technology classes offered at the elementary schools and junior highs. The robotics program will be moving into several of the high schools beginning with the 2014 – 2015 school year.
—–Kathleen Schofield, Prek-12 Curriculum Coordinator
Science Matters, Math Counts, Technology Innovates