Mechatronics, Controls, and Robotics Lab | NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Applying Mechatronics to Promote Science / Central Brooklyn Robotics Initiative (AMPS / CBRI)

Details

Rising expectations for the 21st century workforce, due to the 'flattening' of the world, demand bold new educational programs to produce the highly trained workforce needed to maintain the U.S. leadership in science and technology. On November 23, 2009, when President Obama introduced his new initiative, 'To Educate and Innovate', he said, "I believe that robotics can inspire young people to pursue science and engineering." For over a decade, our team has advocated engaging students' fascination with modern technologies (e.g., robotics, mechatronics, and sensing) as a hook to stimulate them to learn science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This approach provides students opportunities to

Visualize and practice science and math concepts that they otherwise find difficult to comprehend and
Learn tools and techniques that are used by STEM practitioners in real-world.

To gauge the effectiveness of using robotics to engage youngsters in STEM education, in AY2008, we piloted the CBRI effort. The CBRI pilot was created through grants from the Independence Community Foundation (ICF) and JP Morgan Chase Foundation. This pilot project was modeled after NSF's GK-12 Fellows Program and placed engineering students in K-12 schools to collaborate with teachers to train and mentor student teams for the FIRST Lego League (FLL) competition and FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC). At the December 2007 Brooklyn Borough FLL competition, five out of ten neophyte CBRI teams won various awards, including the top award, and qualified for the 2008 NYC FLL competition, where three CBRI teams won various awards.

In AY2009, the CBRI team received a 5 year NSF GK-12 Fellows grant for a synergistic project 'Applying Mechatronics to Promote Science (AMPS)', modeled on the CBRI project. Moreover, in AY2009, CBRI received generous support from ICF, Chase, Motorola, NY Space Grant, and AGEP. During year 2, AMPS/CBRI project was offered in 12 schools and six CBRI teams won various awards at the January 2009 Brooklyn Borough FLL competition, including the Champion award, and qualified for the NYC FLL competition. At the 2009 NYC FLL/FTC event, four CBRI teams won various awards. In AY2010 (year 3), the AMPS/CBRI project is again being offered in 12 schools. Moreover, since AY 2009, the NYU Tandon School of Engineering Fellows have used their expertise in mechatronics and robotics to enrich students' educational experience through robotics-based, grade-appropriate lessons.

Applying Mechatronics to Promote Science (AMPS)

AMPS, a collaborative partnership among NYU Tandon School of Engineering faculty, NSF Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12 Fellows), K-12 teachers, and K-12 students, aims to

Broaden the educational experience and training of graduate students (Fellows);
Enhance technological proficiency of teachers; and
Afford opportunities to K-12 students to develop, apply, and enhance their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills.

AMPS project takes advantage of students' fascination with robots, by using this as a hook, to stimulate them to learn about STEM disciplines. In AY 2010, twelve Fellows are serving as engineers-in-residence at twelve K-12 schools. Fellows, in partnership with teachers, engage, mentor, and challenge students through mechatronics, robotics, and engineering activities, culminating in students' participation in a city-wide robotics competition. These activities, organized around the FLL competition and frequently embedded in the classroom, enable students to develop, apply, and enhance their STEM skills. Participation in the AMPS project broadens the educational experience of Fellows, who also conduct cutting-edge research in: marine systems, image processing, biomolecular diagnostics, etc.

Fellows perform demonstrations and hands-on laboratory activities at their respective schools. These activities enhance offerings of science, math, and technology courses. Fellows also perform following types of activities: help students with their assignments during class, tutoring and review for exam preparation, conduct tutorials, help students in preparing their science project presentation boards, work with the science research students, etc. Fellows have developed important relationships with students, helping them to understand what engineers do and encouraging them to consider career goals in STEM disciplines. Moreover, Fellows have helped teachers become current with STEM content, technology, and career opportunities.

We thank NSF for its generous support. (NSF Award No: DGE-0741714)

Central Brooklyn Robotics Initiative (CBRI)

As robotics, the young science of robots increasingly impacts our daily lives, it is essential for all students to develop an accurate understanding of robotics. In this effort, we are introducing elementary, middle, and high school students from Central Brooklyn to the foundations of robotics technology by engaging their imagination and creativity. Moreover, we are taking advantage of students' fascination with robots by using this as a hook to stimulate them to learn science, math, and technology. We expose students to modern technological applications and engage them in exciting hands-on learning activities.

Furthermore, we work with school teachers to improve their knowledge and repertoire of instructional skills in robotics. This effort, modeled after NSF's GK-12 Fellows program, deploys engineering students in Central Brooklyn K-12 schools to challenge students to design, build, and operate robotic devices in response to the US FIRST robotics competitions (First Lego League and First Tech Challenge).

We acknowledge the generous support provided by Brooklyn Community Foundation (BCF), J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation, Motorola Innovation Generation Grant, NY Space Grant Consortium (NYSGC), and Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP).

AMPS Promotional Material