Robogals UQ Schools Prospectus 2014
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Robogals UQ Schools Prospectus 2014
Robogals in a page
ABOUT ROBOGALS
Robogals is an international, student run, not-for-profit organisation aimed at getting
girls interested in pursuing careers in Engineering and Computer science. Through
extensive use of Lego Mindstorms we deliver fun and engaging workshops both on
campus at the University of Queensland as well as in local and regional schools.
These workshops require the students to employ a range of technical skills to solve
engineering like problems, whilst also relying on (and hopefully developing) skills
such as communication and teamwork among the small groups they work in.
The Brisbane chapter of Robogals (Robogals UQ) was founded in 2009 by Jess
Wrigley. Now just a few short years after its
inception Robogals UQ has run 152
workshops teaching over 2,800 different
students (not counting repeat attenders!).
Whilst our primary focus has, and always will
be, inspiring girls to pursue technical careers,
our chapter firmly believes in breaking the
stereotype of technical careers being a boys
only club by showing girls, boys, and
everyone that girls can enjoy and excel at
technical pursuits as much as anyone else.
We believe this is best achieved in mixed-
gender workshops where girls can gain
confidence and realistic expectations of
working in a male dominated engineering environment.
One of Robogals’ primary activities are school visits. Robogals UQ also has extended
to visiting other community groups, such as Girl Guide units and libraries. During
these visits we run interactive workshops (generally robotics based) or other
activities designed to introduce and promote engineering and technology. Robogals
UQ also runs Girls in Robotics workshops at UQ every school holidays. Outside
workshops, Robogals UQ members have also mentored teams for Robocup Junior
and other robotics competitions
A big event in every chapter’s calendar is their Rural and Regional Road trip (RRR).
Each chapter tries to take their robots on at least one road trip to rural and regional
Australia to expose technology and engineering to remote students. In our 2012 RRR
trip Robogals UQ taught over 650 students from schools including Chinchilla, Roma,
and Goondiwindi. In 2014, we are planning on travelling to Cairns and its
surrounding areas during July. If you are a school in or near Cairns, head to our
website and take a look at the Rural Trip brochure for this year.
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Our Activities for Schools
Robotics Workshops
Robotics workshops are our main initiative, and can be altered to suit any age
group. While our main focus is on senior primary or secondary students we have
taught children as young as 5 years old before. We come equipped to teach 30
students where students will collaborate in pairs to build (depending on session
length and age group) and program a robot. We can however, be flexible and
teach larger groups (with a maximum around 40), if the schools Workshops can
be of any length, although obviously the number and type of the activities within
the workshop is altered as a result.
A typical workshop 1-2 hour workshop consists of:
1. Demonstration of how to use the LEGO Mindstorms software
2. Introductory exercise (Movement)
3. Introductory exercise (Sensors)
4. Problem Solving Task
A 2-3 hour workshop can include building the robots in addition to the above.
We understand there are restrictions from the curriculum, however are happy to
work in with your current topic in class, or to a more appropriate level for your
students. Workshops can be for beginner or advanced students. If a workshop
within a class is too difficult, a lunch time or after school activity has also worked
in the past.
For any workshop all we really need is a space in which to teach. We can provide
all equipment (robots and laptops).We do require power points for our laptops
(we will bring extension cables etc.) and tables (no chairs needed). If your school
already has LEGO NXT robots, and/or computers with the LEGO MINDSTORMS
NXT software, we are definitely happy to use those instead.
Already have a Robotics program/club at the school?
If you already have a robotics program at your school, we are still definitely able
to come along and help out at one of your sessions.
Options for what we could do include:
- Helping out with your normal activities
- Running a workshop designed to help with a specific technique or just a
bit different to your normal workshop (generally more problem solving
based)
- Run a competition for your students (This could be done in one workshop
or we could come twice in this case – once to teach and once to judge)
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Engineering Talks
In the past, we have also had our volunteers give talks to larger groups of
students about engineering. Once again, the manner in which this is done varies
greatly, and can be altered to fit in with your school, however, the content
generally includes
- Introduction to Robogals and Engineering in general
- Our (the volunteers’) personal experience so far in an
Engineering/Science/IT related degree
- A demonstration of a Lego Mindstorms NXT robot
- A focus on robotics, including a variety of applications
- Q/A
We’ve found this more suited to older students, especially those who may
currently be deciding the path they want to take with subject choices, or post-
school. For senior students in particular we are happy to discuss university
degrees and courses in engineering, IT, and science, drawing from our own
experiences. Let us know in advance and we can bring relevant materials from
UQ for your school.
Organising a School Visit
Want to have Robogals to your School?
If you are interested in having visit to your school, simply send an email to any
member of our executive committee (email addresses listed on page 4). Please
try to include information on:
- Age range of students
- Location
- Approximate proposed length of workshop
- Preferred dates/times (if any)
- Any preference for type of activity (if at all)
We will endeavour to respond as quickly as possible to start organizing our trip
to your school!
Multiple Visits
As a volunteer organization, with most of our members current university
students, in order to have the widest outreach to the community there are some
restrictions on the number of visits we can make to an individual school. As such,
while we love to be invited back to a school, we are only able to currently offer
around two visits per semester.
Rural Locations
No matter where in Queensland you are located, let us know if you are
interested. While it may not always be possible, we can always keep your school
in mind for future rural trips. We have also made day trips in the past with a
maximum distance between 2-3hrs drive from Brisbane city.
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Contact Robogals
SUMMARY
Our goal for 2014 is to teach over 1000 girls, and we hope that your school may be
interested in being a part of it. I’d like to point out that we teach all girl or co-ed groups,
are completely free, and that all our volunteers hold a current Volunteer Blue Card. We
are very flexible with what we do, and are happy to alter our activities such that the best
result is achieved for your school. If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate
to contact myself or our President, Betsy Alpert.
I look forward to hearing from you soon,
Chelsea Edmonds
Secretary for Robogals UQ
Contact:
Bianca Shurey Katrina Lo Surdo
Schools Manager – Brisbane Schools Manager – Regional
E: bianca.shurey@uqconnect.edu.au E: katrina.lo.surdo@gmail.com
Betsy Alpert Chelsea Edmonds
President Secretary
E: betsy@robogals.org.au E: chelsea@robogals.org.au
http://brisbane.robogals.org.au/
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