Summer Robotics Training: Empowering the Next Wave of Educators
By Jesse Flot
This summer, the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy (CMRA) welcomed a diverse group of educators, hailing from various corners of the globe, with a singular aim: to integrate the magic of robotics into their classrooms.
We were thrilled to offer the AI-powered hardware and software of the NVIDIA Jetson Nano into our training lineup, along with the LEGO SPIKE Prime and VEX V5. At the end of each of our our immersive 5-day training journeys, not only did educators earn a certification and continuing education credits, but they also forged lifelong connections with a vibrant community of forward-thinking educators.
"The skills were useful and immediately applicable to class. My time talking to other teachers helped me think of ideas to improve my robotics program. Good mix of information with time to spend on what we needed to do. No icebreakers or time I felt was wasted."
The heart of our training sessions was to simplify the art of programming robots for educators, help them identify typical student mistakes, and offer strategies to resolve them. We also emphasized the importance of hands-on STEM integration in the modern classroom. Our certified CMRA trainers brought their invaluable industry insights to the sessions, ensuring tailored and actionable feedback for every participant.
Encased within the dynamic National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) in Pittsburgh, the educators were constantly surrounded by innovative robotic projects, offering an inspiring backdrop to the learning sessions.
“Walking into the NREC every day was a stark reminder of the real-world applications of what we were learning. And of course, exploring Pittsburgh post-class was an added bonus!
The camaraderie during breaks and mealtimes was palpable. Seasoned educators and novices alike exchanged best practices and stories, fostering an environment of mutual growth and knowledge sharing. Whether representing a school with a robust robotics heritage or novices charting their maiden voyage into robotics, our summer training aimed to empower every educator to foster an environment of exploration and curiosity.
Since its inception in 2005, CMRA has been at the forefront of both online and on-site teacher training.