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WARREN -- Just as their high school counterparts have showcased their FIRST Robotics, middle and junior high school students had the opportunity to show off their robots at a recent exhibition at Packard Museum.
Warren's McGuffey School Titonics FIRST Lego League team presented the robotics exhibition.
Children and adults could watch the Titonics and other local robotic teams from Warren city schools in action.
Amanda Colbert, Titonics team coach, said with the guidance of coaches, FIRST Lego League teams focused on solving real-world problems such as food safety, recycling, and energy by applying science, technology, engineering and math concepts.
Sean Williams, 12, a sixth-grader on the Titonics team, said being on the team is fun and allows for a lot of explaining to the public about what the team did to construct its robot.
"You learn programming and controlling the robots," he said as he demonstrated the robots to the public.
Jayden Colbert, 10, fifth grade, said, "We are a second-year team and have all evolved into a little family. When we meet it is like a family reunion."
Colbert said he likes the experience the team gains by competing.
Donovan Stringer, 10, fourth grade, said it has been a great experience and helps get shy and quiet students "out of their shell."
He said one team member was very quiet and now is very outspoken and speaks to the public about what the team does with robots.
Parent Kevin Stringer said the event "celebrates the intelligence of the students and what they have learned."
Amanda Colbert said robotics is more than just robots, it's cooperation and teamwork and also friendships for the teams.
Teams design, build and program a LEGO Mindstorms robot, then compete on a themed tabletop playing field. Along their journey, students develop critical-thinking and team-building skills, build science and math self-confidence and gain valuable perspective on the importance of failure in the learning process.
FIRST -- which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology -- was founded by inventor Dean Kamen and Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Woodie Flowers to inspire young people's interest and participation in science, technology, engineering and math endeavors, and to lead them into STEM career fields.
bcoupland@tribtoday.com