This energetic Lesson Showcase reveals how robotics competitions drive NGSS-aligned science learning through authentic student challenges. During the 60-minute share-a-thon, attendees will explore a complete robotics competition lesson cycle: pre-competition hooks that spark curiosity and build foundational skills, the featured robotics competition lesson where students engage in engineering design, data analysis, teamwork, iteration, and sensemaking during actual competition prep and events, and post-competition extensions that sustain teams, reflect on learning, and connect to classroom instruction. The poster shares take-home resources, equitable strategies that broaden access, and practical tools for building durable skills like problem-solving and collaboration.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with practical resources and strategies for robotics competitions that support three-dimensional science learning and sustainable student teams.

SPEAKERS:
Dana Lupton

Explore meaningful ways to incorporate AI into your classrooms, clubs, and science festivals that encourage critical examination of this emergent technology. Use AI as a tool to examine AI via: the eeriness of voice cloning, the biases counterfactual thinking combined with prompt engineering can reveal, and the inaccuracies uncovered by testing AI on content that you and your students are experts in.  Learn about field-tested activities on the construction and programming of small autonomous robotic arms (available online at arm.ttic.edu). TTIC (ttic.edu) is a philanthropically endowed university and research institute focused on AI and CS theory. NGSS Alignment.  NGSS Alignment: CCC 1, 2, & 4; Practices 1, 3, 4, 6, & 8.

TAKEAWAYS:
AI is here but one should take it with a grain of salt - here is how.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Rodgers, Randall Landsberg

This session provides an overview of the RECF Aerial Drone Competition (ADC) program and its advanced progression, ADC Pro. Participants will learn how ADC serves as an entry-level program where students develop foundational drone piloting, coding, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills through engaging competition experiences. The session will then explore how ADC Pro expands on these fundamentals by introducing advanced autonomous operations, mission-based challenges, air and ground robotics integration, and real-world applications inspired by industry needs. Attendees will gain insight into the competition model, competition timeline, workforce development opportunities, and how both programs create meaningful STEM pathways for students while preparing them for future education and careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain insight into the competition model, competition timeline, and workforce development opportunities while learning how RECF Aerial Drone Competition and ADC Pro create meaningful STEM pathways that prepare students for future education and career success.

SPEAKERS:
Louann Cormier, Shelli Brasher, Nicole Mills

How can robotics competitions spark deeper science learning? This speed sharing session shows how competition-based experiences can build integrated learning and durable skills in science classrooms. Attendees will explore practical strategies for using robotics competitions to strengthen teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and persistence while connecting science, engineering, and other disciplines. Designed as a fast-paced, high-value session, this presentation offers an adaptable idea participants can use immediately to engage students in authentic challenges and support real-world skill development.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how robotics competitions can build integrated learning and durable skills by strengthening teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and persistence across science and engineering experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Dana Lupton

How do you create a robotics competition that engages hundreds of elementary students while supporting STEM learning across an entire school district? This session shares a practical framework for designing, launching, and sustaining a district-wide elementary robotics competition. Participants will explore strategies for securing stakeholder support, developing equitable participation opportunities, creating age-appropriate challenges, training teachers, managing logistics, and measuring impact.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with planning tools, implementation timelines, sample competition structures, and lessons learned that can be adapted to districts of any size.

SPEAKERS:
Kiera Elledge

Join Dr. Carlotta A. Berry, professor, engineering, researcher, advocate, NoireSTEMinist®, and children’s book author, for the launch of her latest children’s picture book, The STEM Kids Make a Robot published by NSTA kids. This engaging book follows a diverse team of fourth graders as they design a recycling robot to solve a problem in their elementary school cafeteria. Along the way, the students model teamwork through the cooperative learning cycle (forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning) and the engineering design process, from identifying a need, research, brainstorming a solution, prototyping, testing, evaluating results, all the way to deployment and presentation. She will also share her robotics children’s book series, There’s a Robot! for baby through 4th grade, and Robot Explorations for 1st – 5th grade at DrCarlottaABerry.com/childrensbooks. This event will celebrate the power of imagination, collaboration, and problem-solving to change the face of STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: • Understand the steps of the engineering design process as demonstrated in The STEM Kids Make a Robot. • Recognize the importance of teamwork and the cooperative learning cycle in solving complex problems. • Connect the book’s diverse characters and storylines to real-world problems

SPEAKERS:
Carlotta Berry

How do robotics competitions spark deeper science learning? In this high-energy 60-minute workshop, participants will explore how robotics programs can engage students in authentic challenge, teamwork, and problem-solving while supporting three-dimensional, NGSS-aligned science learning. Led by a robotics team mentor, this session shares practical strategies for using competition experiences to build student sensemaking, strengthen science and engineering practices, and sustain teams over time while widening access for all learners. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use ideas, planning tools, and sustainability strategies they can apply immediately.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use robotics competitions to energize student engagement, strengthen NGSS-aligned science learning, and sustain equitable teams through sensemaking, teamwork, and problem-solving.

SPEAKERS:
Dana Lupton

Connecting AI to the physical world (aka embodied AI) is the next technological frontier. Join us to explore project-based activities that combine AI with physical robots via the construction and programming of autonomous robotic arms. These field-tested actives use Python and an accessible (relatively cheap ~$300) hardware platform. This workshop will walk you through the parts, construction, Python skill building, game theory, object detection, and autonomous arm programing modules. All components: parts, 3D printing files, construction instructions, programming activities, and lecture slides are available online (arm.ttic.edu) and can be used as a whole or piecemeal for clubs and classrooms. High school interns who explored these activities saw key indicators of retention and success in CS, such as Sense of Belonging in Computing, increase. TTIC is a university & research institute focused on AI and CS theory. NGSS Alignment: HS-ETS1-1 & HS-ETS1-2; CCC 1,2,4,& 6; Practices 1,2,3,4 &

TAKEAWAYS:
Robots + AI = Tool You Can Use + Student Engagement

SPEAKERS:
Michael Rodgers, Randall Landsberg

This project focused on work with the Ozobot Evo robot, which is programmable through block-coding and color-coding. During the summer of 2025, teachers participated in three, 6-hour sessions to learn how to integrate Evo into their classroom activities. Training activities included work with learning programming structures and how to use Evo in the block-coding and color-coding (with markers and magnetic tiles) formats. Each teacher self-evaluated knowledge and skills, before and after the 3-day workshop. Nine teachers provided paired survey data for a self-efficacy scale and responded to open-ended questions. The goal was to provide high-quality, teacher professional development to increase knowledge and instructional skills for integrating robotics into the elementary, middle, and secondary grades classroom. Results showed a significant improvement in programming self-efficacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this initial project, results showed a significant increase in computer programming self-efficacy and significant increases in all five sub-scale scores. In a follow-up session, teachers provided qualitative data regarding use and modifications for the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Lynberg, Deborah McAllister

Teaching Project Lead the Way Design and Modeling course to my 7th and 8th graders, students are tasked with researching, designing and creating a therapeutic toy for a child who has cerebral palsy. Students first met with our Applied Skills students and teachers to first meet with students who have cerebral palsy and learn more about the condition and ask questions/get advice. Next they met with our school physical therapist to also learn about the condition and how it affect the human body and exercises that can help the individual. Then it was time for brainstorming their designs and creating their toys using Tinker cad for 3D designs of their prototype , robotics (Hummingbird kits) and in some case 3D printing of materials. After 2 weeks, our Applied Skills students and teachers came back to review/play with the toys and gave valuable feedback to the students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students will learn empathy and compassion from completing this project as they get to learn from their fellow students on cerebral palsy and how it can affect their body. It brings attending to the condition and allows collaboration with students of different abilities to learn from each other.

SPEAKERS:
Tiauna Washington