2008 Woodie Awards
Robotics and technology workshops return to PSU
Mary Lunday
Issue date: 6/14/07 Section: Campus Life
This year marks the fifth summer that Pittsburg State University will hold robotics and technology workshops for kids. The goal, say the workshop organizers, is to give kids age 9 to 14, a fast-paced and fun look at technology and scientific fields.
"These camps are a PSU Department of Engineering Technology initiative," said Randy Winzer, coordinating professor in engineering technology. "We wanted for kids to explore concepts they were not previously interested in, math, science, teamwork, problem solving, etc., and to show them that these subject areas can be fun."
The workshops will start Monday, July 23, in the Kansas Technology Center.
In addition to the information about technology, Winzer says they will expand the program to two more areas, Construct Your Future and Plastic Is Fantastic.
Construct Your Future will include 3D modeling, computer estimating and scheduling related to construction. Plastic Is Fantastic will give students a look at the materials, processes and design methods in the plastics industry.
"Each participant will get to take the parts they make home," Winzer said.
Adventures in Robotics will feature information on construction techniques, robotic basics and electro-mechanics. Paul Herring, assistant professor in engineering technology, will lead the Plastic is Fantastic workshop, Winzer will teach all sessions of the Adventures in Robotics workshops, and Bill Strenth, assistant professor in engineering technology, heads Construct Your Future. All of the workshops last four days each.
Herring says his goal for the kids is to understand the processes of design, manufacturing and recycling.
"(An example is) taking bottles and grinding them up to make sheets of plastic," Herring said. "The best thing is knowledge."
Strenth says he wants to give kids an "introduction to the professional side of construction, the management side... it's not all hard labor."
Strenth says reading, writing and math, everything kids learn in school, can be used in the camps.
"The No. 1 goal for AIR (Adventures in Robotics) is to energize kids about learning in the areas of science, technology engineering and math," Winzer said.
The sessions will follow a schedule that begins with group instruction, then goes to small group work and brainstorming, and ends with team building.
"The United States will be facing a critical shortage of people with technical skills in the coming decades as the baby boomers retire," Winzer said. "Currently there are not enough graduates with technical backgrounds in engineering, math, science, technology, etc, to meet demand."
The workshops will accept up to 20 students, but a waiting list is available. The cost is $90 per student.
For more information, call Winzer at 235-4370.
"These camps are a PSU Department of Engineering Technology initiative," said Randy Winzer, coordinating professor in engineering technology. "We wanted for kids to explore concepts they were not previously interested in, math, science, teamwork, problem solving, etc., and to show them that these subject areas can be fun."
The workshops will start Monday, July 23, in the Kansas Technology Center.
In addition to the information about technology, Winzer says they will expand the program to two more areas, Construct Your Future and Plastic Is Fantastic.
Construct Your Future will include 3D modeling, computer estimating and scheduling related to construction. Plastic Is Fantastic will give students a look at the materials, processes and design methods in the plastics industry.
"Each participant will get to take the parts they make home," Winzer said.
Adventures in Robotics will feature information on construction techniques, robotic basics and electro-mechanics. Paul Herring, assistant professor in engineering technology, will lead the Plastic is Fantastic workshop, Winzer will teach all sessions of the Adventures in Robotics workshops, and Bill Strenth, assistant professor in engineering technology, heads Construct Your Future. All of the workshops last four days each.
Herring says his goal for the kids is to understand the processes of design, manufacturing and recycling.
"(An example is) taking bottles and grinding them up to make sheets of plastic," Herring said. "The best thing is knowledge."
Strenth says he wants to give kids an "introduction to the professional side of construction, the management side... it's not all hard labor."
Strenth says reading, writing and math, everything kids learn in school, can be used in the camps.
"The No. 1 goal for AIR (Adventures in Robotics) is to energize kids about learning in the areas of science, technology engineering and math," Winzer said.
The sessions will follow a schedule that begins with group instruction, then goes to small group work and brainstorming, and ends with team building.
"The United States will be facing a critical shortage of people with technical skills in the coming decades as the baby boomers retire," Winzer said. "Currently there are not enough graduates with technical backgrounds in engineering, math, science, technology, etc, to meet demand."
The workshops will accept up to 20 students, but a waiting list is available. The cost is $90 per student.
For more information, call Winzer at 235-4370.
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