A team of Year 10 Geraldton Senior College students recently travelled to Perth to compete in the First Lego League Challenge; a global science and technology competition taking place in 80 countries.
The Geraldton Team came home with first place awards for Robot Performance and Programming in the Senior Division along with an invitation to the national competition at Macquarie University in Sydney in early December.
This regional competition involved teams from 34 schools around WA. Teams had to design, build and program a Lego robot to complete a series of challenges. During these matches, teams had 2.5 minutes to show how their robot was able achieve the tasks autonomously and accurately. The theme for this year was ‘Hydro Dynamics’, focussed on how we find, transport, use and dispose of water.
This group of local Year 10 students put in an extraordinary effort, spending 4 hours per week of their own time refining the programming along with their teacher who mentored them along the way.
META Science teacher, Miin-Tyi Chao said, “At the beginning of the year, students were reluctant to try new things. They wanted the solution then then they would have followed it. That is not what this program is about. It is about building it, testing it and breaking it to give it another go with a different solution.
“STEM education is about research, new ideas and innovation,” said Chao. “There are so many students in our community who need to be nurtured, pointed in the right direction and given a chance. By putting in this effort, we can unleash the potential they have to achieve great things.”
“Learning to work as a team and understand how to respect the ideas presented was a massive part of the preparation. I was very proud of all the students, especially those that were able to put aside their personal issues and differences to focus on the task at hand,” said Chao.
“Geraldton Senior College continues to strive to provide all students opportunities to achieve success. Student participation in the First Lego League competition in Perth is another example of the range of opportunities our students have to participate in activities that extend their thinking whilst at the same time, make new friends,” said Greg Kelly, Principal.
For further information contact Marketing & Media Officer Sylvia Vella via sylvia.vella@education.wa.edu.au