A bold and innovative new program launched by Our Lady of the Lake’s science teacher Krystal Castellano has students excited about robotics. Starting last week, Robotics Team members began building three Vex Robots which will be programmed and controlled by a remote controller similar to video game devices.
The team’s goal is to have the robot work on auto pilot for 60 seconds and grab a plastic ball, called the “buckey” ball, and place it in several plastic barrels that have different heights. The team is made up of students in grades 6 to 8 who meet after school once a week. Castellano started her science classes at OLL this year.
“When the opportunity arose to attend Robotics Workshop at La Salle High School, I immediately accepted the challenge with a hopeful outlook that I may start a Robotics program at OLL,” Castellano said. “Robotics, while teaching STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) also teaches students the power of hard work and patience.”
“My favorite activity, to date, has been the actual organization and building of the new Vex Robot,” said 7th-grader Gianna Fernandez. “In the summer, we worked on the NXT Mindstorm Robot, and although it was challenging, I believe the Vex Robot will really tap into our creativeness and challenge our minds.”