For the past two summers, ABC CREATE has hosted Hummingbird Robotics trainings in August that have involved teachers learning alongside their kids and creating Arts & Bots projects together.  We adopted this approach last year when a teacher asked if she could bring her son.  The ABC CREATE teachers who led last year’s training (Sue Mellon from Allegheny Valley and Michelle Thomas from Kiski) were happy to have kids in the mix, so we opened up the session to allow all attendees to bring their school-aged children.  It worked beautifully! We knew we had an idea worth repeating, so we did it again this year.

Kelsey Derringer, from Birdbrain Technologies, facilitated both our Hummingbird Robotics with micro:bits and our Finch Robot sessions in early August 2018.  When we first discussed what the training sessions would look like, I asked if she'd be willing to allow teachers' kids to attend. She was very receptive to the idea and maybe even a bit intrigued.  We went for it, and it turned out so well that I even agreed to write this blog post about it. 

photo: Nico Segall Tobon for Remake Learning

Observations and Reflections:

• It was very helpful for the teachers to watch how their kids and other teachers’ kids in the room absorbed the robotics experience.
• Some of the teachers noted that they thought kids learn differently.  As digital natives, the kids had no fear of “hurting” the technologies.  While that was a bit off-putting for the teachers who approached robotics with a bit more hesitation, it was also gratifying for them to realize that the students in their classrooms would take to this easily and that, as teachers, they wouldn’t have to be the experts in the room.
• We had some great reflections on the growth mindset.  Several of the kids in the room had experienced robotics and/or coding before while many of the teachers hadn’t.  Once we opened the discussion to experiences and not to innate abilities, the educators (and some of the kids for whom this was new territory) were able to acknowledge that they may not be moving along as quickly because these were ideas that they hadn’t been exposed to … YET. 
• Watching the kids (and some were elementary aged) thrive with robotics, encouraged the teachers.  “If a 4^th grader can do this, so can I!”
• The kids were very comfortable in the creative technology space.  They were quick with ideas and not afraid to figure out how to make them work.  It was okay when it didn’t all work perfectly in the time we had to build. 
•  Both teachers and kids were quite proud of their creations and their coding skills – and very interested in learning from one another’s creations.
• It was lots of fun watching teachers ask kids and kids ask teachers for help in working something out.  Not all the teachers had kids with them, and the exchanges of information and support were sometimes within the teacher-parent/student-child groupings and sometimes beyond from a teacher to another’s child, from a teacher to a teacher and from a student to a student.  The unspoken realization that all were bringing skills and creativity to the table in mutually beneficial ways was quietly powerful. 
• Teachers could quickly see the progression of learning with robotics, coding, and engineering.  Having a group of mixed ages and experience levels really allowed the teachers to see possibilities for differentiation and for building upon skills.  Kids and teachers who had prior experience with Hummingbird Robotics were able to move forward with more advanced coding (some even moved to text-based coding) and with more complex mechanisms and engineering skills. 
• Teachers appreciated getting to test out their own learning while simultaneously observing student learning.
• Not every teacher-parent/student-child pairing proceeding perfectly throughout the day; even in those moments, the culture in the workshop was one of learning and reflection.  I heard discussion of what they learned about working together and how they might do things differently next time. Gotta love the opportunity for iterations and the growth mindset – in all its forms.
• When adding kids in to the mix, be sure your menu includes some pizza.
• Having kids engaged in the professional learning for teachers does require the presenter to be very thoughtful and to be prepared to accommodate the perspectives and goals of both audiences.  Carefully developed reflection prompts and classroom integration discussions that address both sets of learners can add depth and dimension to the experiences for everyone.

We were lucky enough to have a photographer visit us during one of our August trainings (thanks, Nico), and when I look at the pictures, I can feel the moments.  The moments of discovery, collaboration, creativity, pride …. Not bad for a professional development in August.  And not a bad way to spend some time with your kids before summer’s over, either!  

Learn more about ABC CREATE here.

Algebra students at The Campus School put their research and data analysis skills to the test as they evaluated the truth of a statement about global migration patterns. Students first explained how to rate the reliability of an information source, using information such the web address suffix (.gov & .edu indicate reliability), past experience with a site, or cross verification of data with another site.

Their task was to use data to assess the validity of a statement “caravans of people (are) coming through Mexico to cross U.S. border...”given three data sources. Students received an article from Politifact, a graphic from an MSNBC news broadcast, and a link to the Global Refugee Flow Explorable, provided by CMU's CREATE Lab.

As soon as they opened the site mapping Global Refugee Flow  https://explorables.cmucreatelab.org/explorables/annual-refugees/examples/webgl-timemachine/, the comments began to fly. “What are the colors?” “What happened in 2007?” “What’s going on in Russia? Is that Ukraine?” Once students had time to find their way in the Explorable, they turned to the task of graphing data from the article and comparing it to the news broadcast graphic. Each indicated a general decline in numbers of refugees entering the US.

“There’s nothing happening in North America!” was the consensus comment when students returned to evaluate their graphs in terms of the Refugee Flow Map. What was merely an academic conclusion from the static graphs became a full-fledged outcry when viewed on the Map. Students experienced the reality that sometimes an absence of data is also a revelation. They concluded that the statement represented an exaggeration of actual contitions, based on their three data sources. 

Read more about the Explorable at:  https://www.fastcompany.com/40423720/watch-the-movements-of-every-refugee-on-earth-since-the-year-2000?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fcdaily-top&position=1&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=05312017

Do > Happen

Building a concept with circuit blocks and language arts

The primary classes of the Campus School were early adopters of the Childrens’ Innovation Project curriculum and circuit block materials. Teachers continued to deepen students’ experience with persistence, observation, and other valuable intangible skills by incorporating themes of the curriculum into students’ daily work.      

When teachers discovered the works of author Herve Tullet, they were inspired to design and adopt various “do > happen” activities utilizing his books.  Montessori kindergarten students first had a read-aloud experience with Press Here, which allowed children to interact with the book and provides opportunities for prediction.  Students then explored the “do > happen’ relationship with an activity with a color mixing using colored pencils. 

The activity wrapped up with students playing the Press Here game!  The game, consisting of patterned game boards and a set of colored dots, asked students to consider where to best place a dot on one of the game boards.  After placing a dot, the child explained how the dot fit where it was placed.  The rest of the students discussed and indicated whether they agreed or disagreed, leading to a group consensus. While playing the game children observed, predicted, and collaborated with one another, while engaging in logical thinking, and using precise language.

Dr. Suzy Cox and Dr. Bill Heyborne recently presented on the CREATE Satellite Network at the Utah STEM Best Practices Conference held June 20th in Provo, Utah. Their session, attended by approximately 60 teachers and other STEM professionals, introduced the work of the CREATE Lab and described the opportunities, for Utah teachers, available through the satellite partners at Utah Valley University and Southern Utah University. Four projects were highlighted, including Giga Pan, Message From Me, Finch, and Arts and Bots. The teachers were enthusiastic about the potential for the projects in their classrooms and asked a host of insightful questions. In addition to leading a session, Dr. Cox and Dr. Heyborne also staffed a both in the vendor area of the conference. Here they were able to demonstrate the four projects, share information, allow teachers, and other interested parties, to ask questions about the network, and have some fun playing with the technology. 

I had the distinct pleasure today to teach the first ever class in the Utah Valley University Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism DURING the ribbon-cutting ceremony - think media coverage, large crowds, heightened emotion. So, what did I teach?

Stay calm and eat apples...

Campus School world languages teacher, Linda Wallen, discovered that fourth graders are not crazy about conversing in their target language. She found, however, that they were happy to give voice to the rubber ducks that inhabit “Ducky World”. In each of the past three years, students were challenged to immerse themselves in a specific environment where their target language was spoken. This year students explored Fez, Morocco, combining their study of world languages with their creative and engineering skills. Students enhanced this year’s World with the addition of electric circuits to provide lighting to the citizens. GigaPan photography allows the viewer to capture the scope of the construction as well as to explore such delightful surprises as "Garder le calme et manger des pommes."

"I feel more prepared to try coding with my 5th graders"
says LeAnne Jones, Iron County School District teacher 

Bill Heyborne, Associate Professor at SUU:

We had the opportunity to train five elementary school teachers and four university faculty on the use of Arts & Bots. We are so excited to begin using this project in our teaching and professional development. In fact, it only took one of our teacher partners 2 days to begin using the technology with her students. We look forward to a long partnership with the CREATE Lab on this exciting and timely project.

Message from Me goes to Atlanta

"The Message from Me training allowed the Hollis teachers to learn how to utilize technology in their classrooms to help their students develop stronger communication skills. This unique app is developed with kids in mind, and teachers at Hollis have already begun implementing the program in their classrooms. I'm excited to see what comes next." - Tamara Peason, CEISMC

On January 28, 12 teachers from the Washington Cluster of Atlanta Public Schools attended a Message from Me workshop at Hollis Innovation Academy.  The training was hosted by PAEYC’s Katie Gullone and the CREATE Lab's Emily Hamner, in partnership with CEISMC, the CREATE Lab Satellite in Atlanta

(pictured above: Katie and Emily walk participants through the MFM setup)

The day began with an overview of how young children typically use technology in the classroom. Teachers and trainers discussed ways that Message From Me can start student-centered conversations in the Washington Cluster.

Participants then used their iPads to photograph student activities in their school and shared them using the Message From Me app.

(pictured above: Teachers take photos to share on MFM)

(pictured above: CEISMC's Tamara Pearson helps participants set up MFM, including Hollis principal, Diamond Jack)

Through an ongoing partnership with CESIMC and the CREATE Lab, teachers at the Hollis Innovation Academy plan to implement the program school-wide in the 2017-2018 school year.

This work is supported by the Infosys Foundation

CEISMC is kicking off Arts & Bots in Atlanta

With Infosys Foundation USA and Blank Family Foundation support, Arts & Bots is making its way to Atlanta. This Monday CEISMC, the local CREATE Lab Satellite, hosted a workshop at Hollis Innovation Academy team. The training was lead by BirdBrain Technologies LLC with support from the CREATE Lab. Check out what participants had to say below. Also, check out what was going down during the training via social media.

At the workshop, members of the Marshall University CREATE Lab Satellite shared GigaPan techniques and practices with teams from the new Satellites at Utah Valley University and Southern Utah University and some of the partners they support. The new Satellites will be offering professional development, support and GigaPan equipment lending library to the educators they serve. This work is made possible by generous support from Infosys Foundation USA. 

Read on to hear what some of the participants had to say and check out some of their great work: 

Bill Heyborne of Southern Utah University - "The opportunities for using this technology for engaging our students is endless. We anticipate tremendous usage in the coming months and years," said Heyborne, who leads the Satellite at Southern Utah University. "The faculty from the SUU Center for Teaching and Learning are very excited to begin using GigaPan in our professional development activities, as well as with our own University students."/p>

Kerstin Bolton of North Elementary - "The training on the GigaPan was highly engaging. The hands-on component, as well as the printed directions and support, from trainers made learning the process of setting up and utilizing the GigaPan a breeze. To further enhance the training there were several in-depth conversations discussing applications of the GigaPan, resources, and website. I was able to immediately return to school the next day and not only access but utilize the resources which were available. My students were highly engaged and excited at new learning opportunities. "

Jackie Grant of Southern Utah University - "Because I am a part of the Southern Utah University Semester in the Parks program, I was exceptionally interested in learning how to use Gigapan technology from the CREATE team. We take our students to national parks all over the region, which gives us a phenomenal opportunity to use Gigapan to introduce students to each park's unique resources. After a day of working with the CREATE team, I felt confident about using the equipment and integrating it in my courses."

From Carlow's Campus School:

What teacher wouldn’t love to have a class of students who could employ the habits of mind to notice, wonder and persist in their daily learning?

The faculty of The Campus School adopted Angela Duckworth’s Grit as this year’s discussion book. They have read and explored methods for extending focus on building persistence into experiences for intermediate and middle-level students. A compelling example of this new teaching model was developed by The Campus School’s primary department.

In kindergarten through second grade, students of The Campus School develop the productive habits to notice, wonder and persist while building circuits to learn about electricity. Their lessons encourage them to step through the process of close examination of materials along with trial and error testing to build complete circuits. In later lessons, they employ and build switches to control the flow of electricity. Second graders then apply their learning to construct an electrified city, combining their knowledge of circuitry with engineering and construction skills. 

If you haven't heard already, the Satellite Network has expanded beyond the Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia region to include CREATE Lab Satellites in Atlanta and Utah.

With great support from the Infosys Foundation USA, CREATE Lab has established partners in both areas to provide educators with tools and training to help their students learn about technology and adapt it to their individual and community needs.

The new satellites made their first visit this summer to begin exploring technology and develop ways of implementation.

The visit went great! Just ask our new partners...

Alisa Petersen of Southern Utah University - "I felt honored to visit the CREATE Lab. My visit gave me a much clearer understanding of the Lab and its purpose. Seeing how Satellite partners at multiple universities are using the CREATE technologies in diverse ways within their K-12 networks helped me understand how well this project will fit into SUU's existing programs and partnerships. I am looking forward to sharing these technologies with educators and children here in Utah."

Tamara Pearson of Georgia Tech's CEISMC - "I truly enjoyed learning more about the vision and possibilities that exist within the satellite network.  Meeting the other partners, hearing about the exciting tools, and engaging in rich and meaningful discussions left me inspired to develop ways to engage youth in Atlanta in technology for social good."

Lizanne Destefano of Georgia Tech and CEISMC - "Wonderful to recognize that we are part of a vibrant, diverse network."

Ray Whittier of Cedar North Elementary in Utah - "We enjoyed two inspiring days at CMU that helped us to see the possibilities of what we can do with CREATE Lab products. We flew home with confidence and creativity--ready to implement!"

Tami Goetz of Utah STEM Action Center - "The ability to see the projects in action, in the schools with kids and teachers, was fantastic! Talking to the CREATE Lab team helped me to not only see how we can implement their projects in Utah, but I see numerous other opportunities to collaborate with them."

Bill Heyborne of SUU Center for STEM Teaching and Learning - "What a great experience getting to meet the CREATE Lab Network team! At a time when there seems to be so much wrong with education in this country, uniting with this group to talk about something so fun, fresh and engaging, gave me renewed hope for finding solutions to some of our toughest educational problems."

Carlow’s Outdoor Classroom, located on the campus grounds, is adjacent to the school bus drop off lanes. Members of the community have wondered about the effects on air quality of idling cars, buses, trucks and taxis waiting to pick up students and residents and to deliver produce and other supplies.

As the CREATE Lab Satellite Network celebrates 5 years of developing, validating, and sharing creative technology best practices in education, the network gets a shiny new website to match. 

Check it out now --> satellite.cmucreatelab.org

The new site is a venue for the Satellite Network to showcase their projects, broad impact, and reach as a mean to better tell our story.

To get the most out of the site watch the filtering tool tutorial below: 

Traditionally, the Finch robot has been predominantly used by older students. That is until our new Stellite in Utah gets their hands on them...

In coordination with The Utah STEM Action Center and Infosys Foundation USA, Southern Utah University is establishing themselves as a CREATE Lab Satellite. One of their major projects will utilize Finch Robots which allow children as young as kindergarten to program and operate a fun and simple robot. Souther Utah will be one of few organizations using this technology for a younger audience. 

Souther Utah will also be using Arts & Bots and GigaPan. 

Carnegie Mellon University's CREATE Lab has received a grant from Infosys Foundation USA to expand the CREATE Lab Satellite Network. The CREATE Lab explores socially meaningful innovation to empower a technologically fluent generation and everyday citizens.

“We are thankful for Infosys Foundation USA’s support,” said CREATE Lab Director of Outreach, Dror Yaron. “Collaborating with them and their extended community enables us to work with like-minded groups who share our passion to enable people from all walks of life to create socially meaningful innovation.”

CREATE Lab and Infosys Foundation USA have identified Salt Lake City and Atlanta as initial locations for the Satellite labs.

Together with key partners CREATE Lab has identified the Washington cluster of Atlanta Public Schools as an area of great need and opportunity. The initial Satellite development and efforts will start there with a new K-8 STEM Academy, scheduled to open in Washington this fall.  This will be the centerpiece and demonstration site in Atlanta. Key partners in Atlanta are Georgia State, Georgia Tech, CEISMC, Atlanta Public Schools, and the Blank Foundation.

In Utah, the Lab and Infosys Foundation USA are working with Tamara Goetz, director of Utah’s STEM Action Center. The STEM Action Center prioritizes STEM education, which works to develop Utah’s workforce of the future. The program drives research and implementation of STEM education best practices across Utah.

Vandana Sikka, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation USA, said, “The Carnegie Mellon CREATE Lab is a wonderful combination of innovative hands-on technology programs and local community action.  By combining these powerful forces we can empower the next generation of students with the creative confidence to be successful.”

About Infosys Foundation USA

Infosys Foundation USA is focused on bridging the digital divide in America by supporting high quality computer science education and coding skills with a particular focus on under-represented communities. It aims to give children and young adults the skills they need to become creators, not just consumers, of technology.  In pursuit of this mission, in 2015 alone, the Foundation has partnered with many internationally acclaimed non-profits and institutions like Code.org, New York Academy of Sciences, DonorsChoose.org, and the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University. In addition, Infosys Foundation USA recently committed a million dollars to the Infy Maker Awards to inspire makers across the U.S. to demonstrate creative excellence in making projects with genuine impact.

Learn more at infosys.org/USA and follow on Twitter @InfyFoundation or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/InfosysFoundationUSA

The imagination of a child is said to be limitless. Great thinkers, from Albert Einstein to Dr. Seuss, sang praises of the power of imagination and its effect on learning and success. This summer, ASSET STEM Education™ put students’ imaginations to the test during its inaugural Engineer Your Summer Fun summer camp—and saw glowing results. One program in particular, Arts & Bots, developed by ASSET STEM Education in association with Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment Lab (CREATE Lab) at Carnegie Mellon University, prompted summer campers to combine craft materials, robotic components, programming tools and a healthy dose of imagination to build and animate robotic creations. Campers used recycled materials and CREATE Lab’s Visual Programmer software to build and program their own robot. This course, typically provided as professional development to educators, is a true multidisciplinary course, combining art and technology to fashion moving, talking, one-of-a-kind creations.

ASSET camp educators provided materials like cereal boxes, construction paper and cardboard boxes and hands-on, concrete opportunities for campers to learn about coding and programming before designing and creating their robot. Special attention was given to the components of the Hummingbird Duo™ kit, the hardware used in conjunction with Visual Programmer software, and how these components attached to the controller and worked alongside one another. Campers then used what they learned—along with their own imagination and innovation—to produce their robotic creations.

To browse other hands-on, minds-on out-of-school learning opportunities for your students, like Arts & Bots, visit ASSET’s site.

At North Elementary School, we have 34 outdoor raised garden beds plus a pumpkin patch and pollinator garden areas. We utilize these beds plus EarthBoxes and grow-carts in the classroom to teach science, mathematics, English language arts, and other disciplines.

For the last 2 years, we also have integrated GigaPan into our garden-based learning projects.  This summer (2015), we have started to transfer what we have learned to other elementary schools in West Virginia.  This has involved preservice teachers who have learned the GigaPan technology and designed learning cycle units that embed GigaPan images of gardens and nature.

Goldfinch awaiting breakfast:  He’ll need to wait until the sunflower seed head matures! (Full image at http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/174487 )

Check out the lesson plans here.

This past summer - graduate students at Carlow University programmed hummingbird kits using visual programmer for an Arts & Bots project in a course entitled Developing Logic and Mathematics in Early Childhood Education. This was the first attempt at computer programming for these students.  The students explored how this type of project connects science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics and how integrated projects can fulfill multiple Next Generation Science Standards and address practices, crosscutting concepts, and core disciplinary ideas in creative and innovative ways.

For 14-year-old Fox Chapel Area School District freshman Annika Urban, teaching comes naturally. Annika is used to public speaking, and when she does have a podium, it is usually to share her knowledge and passion for STEM with others. Being interviewed for videos and in the media, speaking in front of her peers, teaching classes, presenting at conferences, showcasing her work at national competitions, and even meeting the President, these are all part of Annika's repertoire.

As part of the Fox Chapel Area School District's focus on encouraging STEM, Annika, along with two of her friends, co-taught an elementary summer programming class last summer. Wanting to continue teaching STEM classes to young students this summer, she started a new outreach program called SENSE (Student Exploration Network for Science and Engineering). SENSE is supported by the District and funded from Annika's $1,000 2nd place award in Engineering at the 2014 Broadcom MASTERS competition. The first course series would be focused on teaching robotics and empowering girls in STEM-related fields.

“I love teaching younger kids skills like robotics and computer programming-- watching the kids learn new skills and become so excited when they accomplish the task that they have been working so hard on is amazing.”

On August 18-20, 2015, Annika hosted eight young girls in O'Hara Elementary's Digital Dream Studio maker space. The girls, entering grades 4-6, begin exploring the world of programming, robotics, design, and STEM career pathways. Focusing on girls was a special priority as fewer women pursue science and engineering majors than men (AAUW, 2010). Annika and the District hope that these sessions could be a bridge to closing that gap.

Using the Hummingbird Robotics Kit and encouraging a positive growth mindset, the young female students were able to move through the process of understanding both the technical challenges of programming and building, as well as begin to understand how robotics interface with and affect the real world.

Students explored how they currently interact with robots and learned about the initial programming and sensor interaction process, servo manipulation, and the design process. During the three-day series, Annika guided the students to areas of deeper learning and strengthened their individual and group confidence through challenges and activities that fostered supportive conversation and constructive critique. On the final day, students were asked to consider human-controlled interaction (HCI) and create their own original robot moving from initial design, to programming, building, prototyping, showcasing, and sharing.

Annika and FCASD plant to continue the SENSE series in programming and robotics throughout the year and into next summer.

Resources:

Robotics Session: Poster

Written by Scott Hand, Reposted from FCASD.edu with permission

Berry, Berry, Quite Contrary

Garden-Based Learning

Courtney's Growing GigaPan Garden

Exploring Pollinators

Arts and Bots lesson plans for 7th grade Health/Phys Ed class.

From Brett Slezak, Phys Ed teacher at AVSD – part of ABC CREATE

Gilbert, W.Va. - The June Harless Center for Rural Educational Research and Development, part of the College of Education at Marshall University, offered “Camp Create” at the Larry Joe Harless Community Center in Gilbert, W.Va., July 14-17^th. “Camp Create” – which was held in memory of James H. “Buck” Harless - focused on engaging children with real technology and creative robotics while integrating the arts. This year’s theme was Jurassic World; the children created dinosaur robots.

Arts & Bots is a program created by the Carnegie Mellon Create Lab at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. The children used the visual programming software to program their robots to move, light up, and audio voice-overs. Each child created his or her own robot, which was displayed at the community center. A showcase of the creative robots was held for the families and community. 

Tytus Endicott works during Camp Create using Visual Programming software to program his tetradactyl robot.

Madelyn Billups uses the visual programming software to program the tree in the dinosaurs environment to rotate 360 degrees.

During the showcase, Jaelyn Blofsky, demonstrated the program she created for her dinosaur robot to move.

Family and community members watch as Eli Hagy programs his tyrannosaurus rex.

Left to right clockwise: Issac Jewell, Jonah Mahon, and Ben Wilson work during Camp Create to build and program their robots.

Grace Ellis created an environment for her dinosaur robot. Community members observe and interact with camp participants during the showcase.

Jaeden Osborne created a sequence on the visual programming software to go along with her dinosaur robot.

Read more »

The projects on display in this showcase represent learning experiences constructed by our faculty to prepare students with 21st century skills.

Dr. Harold Blanco's CI 350 (instructional technology) class is made up of Pre-K - 12 pre-service teachers. The class spent 3 weeks building robots as apart of Marshall University's satellite work. The training included using the equipment, programing the software, and integrating the technology into their unit plans. View some of the highlights below and check out all their bots here.

Last year we attended the West Virginia Board of Education meeting to introduce them to the Satellite Network...this year we returned to to update them on the Network's activities in West Virginia over the last year

Having recently partnered with the West Virginia University CREATE Lab Satellite to include Arts & Bots as part of their “Hot Science Camp” week, The Harrison County Community Center raved about the experience.  The science camp was a combination of two summer camp groups, and included 35 students ranging in age from third grade to sixth grade, all from low income families in Harrison County.  

Campers were instantly engaged. After a short presentation on the basics of engineering, participants unpacked the hummingbird box and practiced with the software. They then began designing their robots on paper, following the rules of at least one motor, at least one light, at least one something else, multiple expressions, and at least one sequence. The kids quickly took over the computers, excitedly programming and building their robots.  Despite being chaotic, as active science always is, camp leaders at the Community Center said it was likely the best day of the week. The campers seemed enthralled by their work with Arts & Bots, and when asked if they would like a 2 or 3 day experience with this, they all wanted more! 

In addition to participating in "Hot Science Camp" this summer, WVU's CREATE Lab Satellite has also been working with the Children's Discovery Museum of West Virginia to offer robotics days for early elementary and preschool aged children. Two Arts & Bots sessions were held at the museum so far this summer, with participants ranging in age from four to nine years old. 

The CREATE Lab Satellite team at Marshall University's June Harless Center is running the first of three summer Arts & Bots camps this week in Mingo County, WV. Watch the full TV story here!

This week--more than three dozen students in southern West Virginia are exploring the fields of science, technology, and art. Empty juice containers, shoe boxes, and toilet paper rolls aren't the most technical objects, but these recycled materials are exactly what students are using to build robots at "Camp Create" this week in Gilbert. "It's really just about engaging children in something fun and exciting that's technology based," said Tarabeth Brumfield, program development office for the Harless Center of Marshall University. Students are using computer programs to tell their robots how to perform different functions. "We learned what everything does and how to wire it," said student Dylan Glasscock. And students are loving every minute of the design process. "I'm really into this stuff and I love science in school," said Skyler Mounts, Camp Create student. Mounts has already gotten her robot's eyes to blink and the arms to move. She's even working on getting it to talk! "I think that this will help me a lot in science because I'm moving up to middle school, and I'm sure that they have a lot of projects like this," said Mounts. Camp Create organizers hope students are energized by what they're learning to help them excel in the fields of science and math.. "The great thing about children is they're not intimidated at all. So to put real tools, real robotics components in the hands of them at 7, 8, 9, 10, then that just gets them prepared for the content that they're going to need, gets them excited about what they want to do for the future," said Brumfield. And that goes beyond school and into the hundreds of career opportunities open to kids who go into technology-related fields. "I've had children this week say they're an engineer or they're an artist, but how do you combine those skills to make a job for the 21st century? So that's what these programs are all about," said Brumfield. If you'd like to check out to finished robots these kids are making for yourself, Camp Create students will showcase their work Friday, July 11th from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Harless Center in Gilbert.