TRIO's Talent Search building robotics into after-school programming

If you build it, opportunity will come.

In an effort to introduce computer science and engineering concepts to more students, Educational Talent Search, a TRIO program through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, is building VEX Robotics into after-school programming at three Lincoln high schools.

Students at Lincoln, North Star and Northeast high schools are meeting once a month after school with Zach Short, project director for Educational Talent Search, to learn the ins and outs of building, programming and competing in robotics.

“We're trying to get this raw excitement and creativity the students have and put it into a medium that we think is not only going to be exceptionally exciting to learn, but could become a productive resource for them,” Short said. “For some time now, STEM engagement has been a big component of Talent Search. We want to help create opportunities regarding robotics engineering and coding, to help give students experiential opportunities that will open them up to interest in STEM fields.”

Lily Tran, a sophomore at Lincoln High, dabbled in robotics previously and came to the first workshop offered at LHS to see if the VEX Robotics club was something she would be interested in pursuing further. It turned out, she said, that robotics is similar to her other passion — art.

“It’s hands-on — you’re building something,” Tran said. “I also like to code, and the robots work like puzzles. When you get it correct, and it works and makes sense, that’s rewarding.”

Kristen Labadie | University Communication and Marketing

Educational Talent Search is a federally funded program that offers additional supports to middle and high school students. The program engages, empowers and supports potential first-generation college and underserved scholars who have the desire and potential to pursue education beyond high school. Activities and embedded educational specialists provide access to academic, social and financial resources.

Robotics previously has been part of the Talent Search summer programming with Sphero, but Short wanted to expand the offering year-round and do so through VEX Robotics because of its global reach and student opportunities. VEX Robotics has teams, clubs and competitions all over the world. It can open opportunities for scholarships and future employment, but it is also a dynamic way to expose students to STEM concepts, especially engineering and coding.

“Our goal is to use these remaining weeks of the spring semester to generate interest, explain the components of robotics and encourage them to think about what they would like an end product to be,” Short said. “When we get to the fall semester, we hope to have a strong cohort, start putting together some teams and have tangible action goals for them.

“We want to really reinforce the STEM engagement opportunities across the board, because we think regardless of what the interest levels are, being exposed to STEM is a beneficial opportunity, at least in making a more informed decision about what you want to do for college or for a future career.”

During the first after-school session, Short gave a brief overview of the concept of robotics, where there are robots in their daily lives and the components of the VEX kits, and challenged students to think about the robots they would like to build. Students talked about attaching cameras, recreating the robot from “Squid Games” and whether they could build their own robot vacuum.

“It’s really amazing they’re offering this,” Tran said. “I’m just at the beginning level, so it’s going to get harder, but there are aspects that I can see myself enjoying in the future. And I know it can open up more opportunities.”

Kristen Labadie | University Communication and Marketing