Is your student new? Here is what to expect..
4th-8th Grade
In the fall we get the children involved in the VEX IQ Challenge. This is the most fun way to get introduced to robotics. This is an open-ended problem that allows kids of all ages (4th-8th grade) and ability levels to achieve success. This is what got us hooked into robotics with our kids and we think it’s a great way for complete novices to be introduced to robotics. It is also by far the most anticipated session for returning students. It is a bit of a trial by fire but boy is it fun! The competition days are warm, welcoming events that provide a great deal of excitement and learning. The focus isn’t on winning or losing but about your level of success and improvement. With multiple competition dates (at least 3), it gives the children an opportunity to see what works and what doesn’t. Teams get a chance to rework/redesign their robot to perform better at the next competition. It is this progression we strive to get all children to achieve and experience, for this is success in problem solving.
For new students we will give them a small robot to build individually which they will have up and running by the end of the first class. This introduces the child to how to build with the VEX IQ system, and gives us, the instructors, the opportunity to learn who the kids are so that we can pair them up into teams the following week. If they come with a friend, we will pair the two up together (If they want). From there we will give them a robot design that will work. It will not work well but they will have a robot that can perform the game. This standard design gives new kids a direction to solving the current problem. This robot will have LOTS of room for improvement and we will encourage and entice them to make improvements or redesign to accomplish the game at ever higher proficiency levels. They will learn ideas from others in the class and see new and exciting ideas at the competitions they will attend.
If you’ve missed the Fall competition season, we offer Introduction to VEX IQ in the Winter, Spring and Summer. This class will teach the fundamentals of programming and building, and we always throw in a little competition at the end! By taking these classes, the children will have more tools in their arsenal when they come in the fall.
3rd Grade
Fall and Winter – We offer classes specifically designed to introduce 3rd graders to building and programming in a very supportive environment. The classes are set up for the students to run experiments so that they start to understand mechanical advantage, gearing, effects of wheel size, torque, leverage etc while becoming familiar with the programming environment and the building paradigm.
Spring - For 3rd graders that complete this class, we will allow them to join a 4th/5th grade class for Introduction to VEX IQ. We’ve found that this preparatory class has been a real key in getting kids to start thinking about why and how to do things.
7th-8th grade
Students in 8th grade (and some of our outstanding 7th graders) spend the Winter and Spring preparing for High School Robotics. In the winter students learn C++ and in the spring students learn to build with aluminum.
9th-12th grade
Our High School students participate in the Vex Robotics Competition (VRC). This is a competitive robotics program that uses metal (aluminum) robots. More information about the competition can be found here: https://www.vexrobotics.com/competition
We will have 5.5 hours of regular lab time each week. There will be extra lab time given on both a paid and a volunteer basis. We go to at least 4 competitions.
Our program has professional mentors with years of practical experience. These mentors are always available during lab time for direct help, instruction on specific tasks, and advice. We guide and run a program for your students, this is not a student run program.
We have modified our program over the past few years so that it can accommodate all types of students. Students that want to supplement their other activities and still do meaningful work on a robot are welcome and find success. Students that want to live and breath robotics and compete for championships will also get the support they need.
With that said, we do not provide step by step instructions and we don't guarantee success. Students that have the best experience are self starting individuals that put in work while onsite, do research while offsite, and work well in a team setting. Students get more out of the program if they put in effort and seek advice.
Robot Revolution is the Largest Organization in NJ. We will run 16-24 teams and have 90-110 total students. Almost all teams make it to the NJ State Championship and 2-3 of our teams per year make Worlds. Robot Revolution has won a total of 8 awards at worlds during it's 10 year history. Our students has moved on to attend such schools as MIT, UPenn, Cornell, Yale, Carnegie Mellon, University of Colorado, Pomona, Northwestern, Cal Poly, Harvey Mudd, Georgia Tech, and University of Florida (Free Ride).
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