The TechConnect program has been retired under further notice. For volunteer opportunities, look into volunteering for IHMC’s Robotics Camp by emailing Dr. Schwuttke (uschwuttke@ihmc.us), check out INERTIA (https://inertiapensacola.org/), or the Pensacola MESS Hall (http://www.pensacolamesshall.org/support/volunteer/).
What is TechConnect?
TechConnect is a program at IHMC that provides volunteer internship opportunities for local Pensacola area high school students. For 2016, local student volunteers created fun, interactive lessons for a robotics unit called KidBotLabs in the Innovation Center at OJ Semmes Elementary School. Their lesson plans included an introduction to computer programming using code.org, hands on kits designed to teach concepts related to robotics and programming, and a long-term plan for OJ Semmes Robotics Club using Lego Mindstorm EV3s. For 2017, students designed and built autonomous boats that they programmed with Java. Previous years included teaching MIT's Scratch at the Fricker Center and creating Mess Kits at the Pensacola MESS Hall.
2017: Autonomous Boat Challenge
For 2017, eight high school students split into two teams to compete in IHMC's Autonomous Boat Challenge. Students were given materials to design and build their own custom boats and taught programming skills to have their boats navigate an obstacle course. The students also met with robotics engineers to discuss research on humanoid and exoskeleton robots in IHMC's Robotics Lab.
2016: Kid Bot Labs at OJ Semmes
For 2016, local student volunteers created fun, interactive lessons for a robotics unit called KidBotLabs in the Innovation Center at OJ Semmes Elementary School. Their lesson plans included an introduction to computer programming using code.org, hands on kits designed to teach concepts related to robotics and programming, and a long-term plan for OJ Semmes Robotics Club using Lego Mindstorm EV3s. KidBotLabs has built multi-part learning plans as well as developed numerous mini lessons for the students at OJ Semmes Elementary School for use in their Innovation Center.
