Marquette offers spring break robotics courses for young students

Marquette’s College of Engineering Outreach Program is offering a series of classes for children during spring break, which for most elementary, middle and high school students in the Milwaukee area is April 13-17. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, students can enter the world of robotics and learn how to design, build and program their LEGO Mindstorms RCX and NXT robots. Classes are limited to 15 students and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Students will work with computer-controlled LEGO bricks that they program to come to life and perform various functions. Working through a number of challenges, such as moving cans and climbing mountains, students learn the skills necessary to reprogram and advance their robot designs.

The spring break programs are:

Robotics Engineering with the LEGO Mindstorms RCX

Ages 8-12

April 13, 15 and 17, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Students learn how to design, build, and program LEGO Mindstorms RCX robots. This critical thinking course is for beginners or those with limited experience with the RCX.

Advanced Robotics Engineering With the LEGO Mindstorms RCX

Ages 8-14

April 13, 15 and 17, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Students with basic skills in building and programming LEGO Mindstorms RCX learn how to use robots to collect data in real-time experiments.

Robotics Engineering with the NXT

Ages 12-18

April 13, 15 and 17, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Students learn about the world of robotics through designing, building, and programming LEGO Mindstorms NXT robots. This course is designed for all robotics lovers, regardless of experience.

Advanced Robotics Engineering with the Mindstorms NXT

Ages 12-18

April 13, 15 and 17, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Students with basic skills in building and programming LEGO Mindstorms NXT learn how to use robots to collect data in real-time experiments.

The mission of the Engineering Outreach Program at Marquette University is to enhance the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) skills of the children and adults in the Milwaukee region to better prepare them for the challenges of competing in a global economy driven by innovation.

Call 414-288-6720 for a registration form and complete list of programs for both spring break and summer 2009.