By Kevin SieffSunday, March 13, 2011; 11:55 PM
From a classroom in Anacostia, Brittany Robinson, 14, is programming a robot to perform open heart surgery. She's focused, squinting at the small machine, weighing in periodically on the intricacies of computer science and engineering.
Never mind that the robot and the heart are made of Legos.
Her team at KIPP DC: AIM Academy, a charter school, is part of a burgeoning program that uses the children's toys to make engineering more exciting and accessible to students in elementary, middle and high school - an effort that has experienced success in its first years.
At Washington area Lego robotics competitions, Brittany's team is one of a small but growing number of predominantly African American groups. Although most of the Virginia/DC First Lego League's 3,500 entrants and 437 teams are from the suburbs, the Symbiotic Titans are one of a few teams from east of the Anacostia River. Maryland also has a First Lego League.
For many on the D.C. team, robotics has been a revelation.
"I knew the basics of what engineers do, but I didn't know all the things that go with robotics," Brittany said. "I didn't know what it takes to complete a mission."
FIRST LEGO League continues to motivate as well as reward students who are involved. This article is a great example of the influence the contest has on students.
In the article, Brittany Robinson, age 14, states she knew the basics of engineers jobs but did not know all the things associated with Robotics.
I just think it is go great to hear students articulate what the contest has exposed to them to.
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