A Guide for Teachers: How to Implement a Robotics Competition in any Classroom

We have no doubt. Robotics competitions can have an extraordinarily positive impact on students. Their learning process can face a new didactic, interactive and engaging atmosphere for them to comprehend a number of STEM-related content without even noticing.

Robotics competitions can wake up the leader that each student has inside, and can strengthen various abilities and skills -both hard and soft- that will be inherently needed in the 21^st century.

A few months ago, in this same blog, we mentioned a few of the reasons that show parents and educators how robotics competitions can build a generation of impactful innovators who will create a meaningful change in tomorrow’s world.

Today, implementing a robotics competition in your own classroom doesn’t have to be hard, nor expensive. The same values, energy, content, learning processes and educational verticals your students get when participating in events like FIRST, WRO or FLL can be enjoyed by your students without the need of any hardware, making their preparation even more inclusive. Because, robotics should be for everyone, right?

The Cyber Robotics Coding Competition, organized by the ISCEF foundation, has been held in many states around the US, and in a number of different countries both in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. In each one of these instances, every single student got to practice and work with their very own virtual robot. Expensive hardware? No need!

1. Get your students involved in STEM: Your students should understand that STEM goes way beyond just science, technology, engineering, and math. When we advise for you to get your students involved, we invite you to show them how STEM will be present in our everyday lives in the future, and how its different applications will rule the way the workforce of the future structures itself. In order to engage them with this matter, you guys can talk about the importance of makerspaces, gamified learning environments, or even about the most amazing programming languages for kids.
   
2. Assure them that anyone can do it!
   

It is important for your students to know that anyone can program their very own virtual robot, in order to receive phenomenal tools and to strengthen the ultimate skills and abilities they’ll need in the 21^st century. Give them confidence, trust, and knowledge for them to become problem-solvers, critical thinkers and team workers. When they receive your trust and support, nothing will stop them! Also, mention that when using online and gamified learning environments like CoderZ, no expensive hardware is needed and each one of them can get to program and play with their very own virtual-version of the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3.

3. Prepare the class, you only need internet and motivated students: It is as simple as that. You only need a computer with internet and students who are willing to access a gamified learning environment with challenging and engaging missions to start preparing them for the big competition. Encourage them to find different ways for them to make their robot do different things and be clear when explaining that there are a number of different paths to solve the same issue. Don’t worry, CoderZ uses a friendly and colorful visual editor, that will enable your students to become programmers without even noticing, and before jumping to code their robots with Java.

4. Divide your students into teams:

One of the most important things your students will have to learn is how to work in teams, when to lead, and when to be guided. Also, dividing them into teams will collaborate to the “competition atmosphere” you want to create in the class. Encourage them to name their teams, to divide tasks, and to work together in solving the different challenges they’ll face when in the actual competition. Just like in regular competitions like FIRST, FLL or WRO… but this time online, from the comfortness of their own classroom, and with the unique chance of being able to practice whenever they want, from wherever they want. Contact the CRCC team, and let the fun begin! The CRCC team is reachable and accessible, just like the competition itself. Get in touch with the team and discover how easy it will be to implement a robotics competition in your own classroom. But the fun doesn’t have to end there, you can take it one step further and join other schools from your area to do a district competition or even a state competition. The CRCC team will be there for you during the entire time, ensuring an exclusive, comprehensive, extraordinary learning experience both for you and your students.

When CoderZ was created, the biggest goal was to bring robotics to every student. Understanding the exacting and exigent needs of the 21^st century, creating a gamified learning environment that prepares students for the future while enabling them to strengthen essential skills was a must. Today, being able to provide a cyber robotics coding competition that is successful worldwide makes us proud and happy. Don’t think it twice, register for a free trial of CoderZ and experience how does it feel to teach STEM through virtual robots.

Robotics competitions can build a generation of impactful innovators!