Educational events are a great opportunity to connect with professionals, students and experts in the education sector. They offer a chance to learn about new innovations in the field and make connections that will help you grow as an educator.
The Technology Challenge is a competition designed to get girls interested in coding and computer science. It also teaches them to identify problems and create solutions.
National Robotics Competition
Students can build their skills and confidence with robotics by participating in this technology competition. Students design and build robots that compete in annual game challenges against teams from across the country. This competition is a great way to excite young minds about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
The National Robotics Competition, which was founded in 1986, is one of the oldest robotics contests in the United States. It was originally known as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Robotic Technology and Engineering Challenge (SME-RTEC).
Students work in teams to solve a real-world problem. They build and program industrial-sized robots that participate in head-to-head field games with other teams. The teams are coached by professional engineers and mentors. Teams are comprised of students from public, private and homeschool schools. The yearly competition is free for qualifying teams. This event is designed to foster interest in STEM and promote engineering education and careers in elementary, middle and high school students.
Solar Car Challenge
The Solar Car Challenge is a classroom-based, hands-on educational program administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Students use math, science and creativity to design, build and race solar and battery-powered model cars. Successful teams qualify for a national competition.
Each team’s vehicle is fitted with solar panels that power a lithium-ion battery to propel the vehicle. The car has cruise control to maintain optimal speed for preserving battery life. Students also use computers to track competitors with global positioning systems and upload daily statistics to judges.
The competition has inspired innovations in solar cells, batteries and semi-autonomous vehicle technology. International universities and technical institutes work with the participating high school teams to develop innovative solutions. Each year the rules get stricter, driving innovation in solar, electrical and mechanical engineering. The most recent event saw high school team Sonke Siyakude from St Alban’s College and St Augustine’s LEAP School win the coveted Sasol Solar Challenge title for the third time.
ExploraVision
In the world of science competitions, ExploraVision stands out as a unique national competition sponsored by Toshiba and administered by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). The competition motivates students to work in collaborative groups while exploring real-world problems. It also encourages creativity and imagination. Students build critical thinking skills and develop teamwork and communication abilities as they collaborate on their projects.
Students must use their research to find solutions to specific real-world problems and imagine what technology might look like 10 years from now. They must also determine what breakthroughs would be necessary to create their future technology, and explain why the technology does not already exist.
Students who complete their projects in the required format and submit them online are eligible to compete at the regional level. Teams that win their region will receive a special award and a gift from Toshiba. Other prizes include participation certificates and a unique prize for each team member.
STEM Challenge
The STEM Challenge is a technology competition for students in grades 5-8. The program provides unique challenges based on NASA mission data and experiences of human and robotic exploration. It also includes teacher training and live connections with scientists and engineers. The competition is free for schools to participate in.
Kids can develop engineering skills in a variety of ways with STEM challenges. These activities encourage children to use the scientific method, explore, design, test, and repeat. This process helps improve problem-solving in all subject areas. Some examples of STEM challenges include computer coding with LEGO, building a marble run, and index card science.
Broadcom MASTERS is a national STEM competition for middle school students that gives them the chance to work with professionals in their field. Junior Science and Humanities Symposium allows high school students to present their research. These students compete at regional symposia for scholarships and recognition. The Regeneron Science Talent Search is another high school competition for students to compete in science-based projects.
