It seems that there are a lot of exceptionally high quality high school robotics programs out there. The things the best programs seem to have in common are"
- The kids are exceptionally invested in what they are doing, and they are passionate about it.
- The kids work in multi aged groups, with students returning year after year, passing their knowledge on to younger students.
- The work is project based.
- There are a lot of actual real problems the kids are working on, so there is a lot of problem solving.
- Lots of engineering and science is being learned.
- The activities the kids are involved in day to day are in service to a larger project and goal.
- What the kids are learning depends upon the project and goal.
- There is nothing about it that seems contrived.
I have also noticed that often these types of experiences, which we all know are truly excellent education, happen outside of the actual school day.
I am wondering if anyone knows of a school that has solved this problem and offers such a robotics experience during the actual school day.
After looking around a bit, it seems that most of what goes on during the day is structured to the point that it does not permit a lot of the items listed above.
I would love to hear about some places where such a program might be thriving!
What I have noticed, however, is that most of the best work seems to go on after the normal school day is over.