Students who participate in robotics programs often excel in STEM engagement, problem-solving abilities, computational thinking, and—in rare cases—team-building on the “Survivor” reality series.
In the latest episode of the “DA Changemakers” podcast, Dr. Christian Hubicki, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Florida State University and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, shares his experience with the FIRST Robotics program as a K12 student and offers advice for superintendents looking to expand career technical education offerings.
Students learn a wide range of technical skills, such as programming a “proportional-integral-derivative controller,” which is a feedback control loop widely used in robotics to ensure stable automated movements. They also develop “CEO-level” management skills from competing in competitions, Hubicki notes.
Students must often fundraise, manage finances, create business plans and negotiate alliances with other teams.
“Pretty much anything you would associate with a professional career or even just a smart interpersonal skill, you can associate with being on a successful robotics team,” Hubicki explains.
As a fan-favorite contestant on “Survivor,” Hubicki relied on STEM fundamentals to overcome dire situations, including using nearsighted glasses to start a fire on a remote island.
“I’ll never forget when that fire actually lit,” Hubicki says. “You learn. You try things, and you fail, but you try and try again.”
To hear the full discussion, listen to this episode of the DA Changemakers podcast here.
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