Inspiring Young Minds Through Robotics

VEX Robotics has revolutionised STEM education by offering hands-on opportunities for students to engage with engineering, programming, and teamwork. Spanning elementary to university levels, VEX programs foster creativity and critical thinking through exciting robotics challenges. VEX is recognised globally for its impact on education. In 2018, it earned the title of the world’s largest robotics competition by Guinness World Records, cementing its role in inspiring future innovators.

The VEX platform provides multiple pathways for students to thrive:

• VEX IQ targets elementary and middle school students, offering age-appropriate challenges.
• VEX V5 engages middle and high schoolers with advanced robotics skills and competitions.
• VEX U allows university students to compete with fewer design constraints, encouraging innovation.
• VEX AI (still in development) aims to introduce artificial intelligence concepts to high school and university participants.

A transformative experience

Last week, I, along with my colleagues James Lillington and Benjamin Joannou, attended a Junior Robotics teacher workshop led by Stan Hunter. Stan brings over 30 years of robotics experience, including 20 years of organizing competitions with participants from over 200 countries. His expertise underscored the global impact of VEX Robotics and how it can engage students of all abilities. Stan went on to explain that these kits are very durable, robust and built to last, with some he said has used for over a decade still functioning reliably. The kits provide a hands-on learning experience that’s invaluable for students who struggle to connect with traditional academic methods.

Real-World Skills Through Robotics

The workshop highlighted the importance of design thinking; a process central to many industries today. Through robotics, students develop teamwork, time management, leadership, and communication skills. These competitions also challenge students to think critically, work within deadlines, and solve problems creatively.

One exciting aspect is the integration of coding. Students can start with block-based coding and gradually transition to Python, making it a versatile tool for improving logic, design, and problem-solving abilities. VEX IQ also offers a virtual platform (VR VEX), which enables students to practice programming without physical robots—perfect for homework or schools with limited resources.

Hands-On Learning and Building>

During the workshop, we explored the second-generation VEX IQ kits. These come equipped with a range of sensors, including bumper switches, optical sensors, touch LEDs, distance sensors, and gyroscopes. We built a robot base and experimented with coding it using the online VEX IQ coding IDE. Updating firmware and managing battery charge were part of the challenges, simulating the real-world complexities students will encounter during competitions.

We’re excited to share these experiences with our STEM Robotics Club as we prepare for the interschool VEX IQ competition on February 22, 2025, at the Camana Bay ARC. It’s thrilling to see how this program not only aligns with computer science but also integrates physics, electronics, and mechanical design.

Acknowledgments>

A huge thank-you goes to the program sponsors, including Dart, Minds Inspired, Digicel, KPMG, Health City Cayman Islands, and more, for making this initiative possible. Their generosity ensures students across the Cayman Islands can access cutting-edge STEM learning opportunities. I had the pleasure to write futher about this amazing workshop organised by Glenda McTaggart in our school newsletter for the community. We want to raise awareness about this game changing opportunity and we would love to hear from anyone else interesting in being a sponsor so we can implement for whole class use as part of our curriculum next year.  

The journey has just begun, and I can’t wait to see how this program inspires our students to innovate and solve tomorrow’s challenges!