Robotics Competition from MWSU Campus Watch on Vimeo.

As part of a Texas Computer Education Association, a competition, more than 80 elementary and middle school students competed in a robotics competition in Dillard and McCoy Jan. 25. Students were able to compete in hopes of creating the best robot. They each designed, constructed, and programmed robots for real life encounters.  According to Don Sewell, This year’s theme was Rubble Trouble.

“Each Year the problem set for the arena is based on a real life situation. Like this year its rubble trouble and its setup so that if there were a disaster, you would need food and medicine, you would need possibly some support for buildings that had been hit in some way and were not stable,” Sewell said.

MSU hosts the robotics competition each year. Since 2007, the competition has focused on STEM skills — science, technology, engineering and math. During the competition, students were able to learn other skills such as critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, and helping others.

“We got to learn a bunch about engineering and how to program stuff to help other people,” Shayleigh Preston, a student at Jacksboro Middle School, said.

With a little bit of guidance, these students can be inspired to become leaders in both science and technology.

“A math teacher, a physics teacher, anyone who understands those aspects of education is an excellent coach for this because they can guide the students,” Sewell said.

STEM instructors  say the competition at Midwestern State is a way for parents to become more aware of the program, and introduce the students to a college atmosphere.

READ: “McCoy hosts robotics competition for area students” by Ethan Metcalf