PORT TOWNSEND — An extracurricular robotics class at Blue Heron Middle School aims to teach students both how to use advanced technology and how to work with other students as part of a team.
“This is a portal program,” said program coordinator Judy Mc- Cuthen. “This is where the jobs are.”
Ten students — in fourth grade through seventh grade — are signed up for the class, which meets after school each Thursday.
The robots are created with a hardware/software combination package called Lego Mindstorm.
The program leads students through creating a function through a drag-and-drop programming interface and then through building a robot that performs that function, using the familiar Lego interlocking block process.
The robots can be programmed to perform simple functions such as following a taped line or, as in the class’ most complicated project, to run a relay race.
“If they start here with the Lego program, they will be able to use complicated robotics programs in the future,” said Steven Goldenbogen, the class instructor and a volunteer.
“What they learn here, they can use later.”
The expectation is that when today’s 10-year-olds are ready enter the job market, robots will perform a variety of labor-saving tasks, and there will be a need for people to control and design them.
Goldenbogen said the software is easy for the students to use and understand but that technology isn’t the greatest obstacle to their success.
“The kids understand the computer program, but they don’t always know how to work together,” he said.
“The biggest challenge has been their learning to work together as a team.”
The class has six copies of Mindstorm, each used by two students at a time.
Four of the $375 programs were bought by the REACH program, a private group that supports the schools, with two copies supplied by anonymous contributors.
On Thursday, the class had only one working computer, despite its location in the school’s computer lab, which has a bank of Mac computers.
The program operates best on a late-model laptop, Windows or Mac, but can be installed on a desktop with the proper tweaks.
The laptops used are privately owned, as the program has been unable to get clearance to install the software on the school computers.
“It’s frustrating,” McCuthen said.
“We have all these computers sitting here, and we can’t use them.”
When Goldenbogen first approached Blue Heron Principal Mark Decker with the installation request, he was told that it would be March before the task could be completed.
Since the class is scheduled to end in January, Goldenbogen never submitted his request.
Decker, who supports the program, said the backlog has to do with available resources.
“We have a backlog for the installation for the classroom, so if I were to prioritize the installation for an after-school program, there would be objections,” he said.
Decker, however, was not aware that the program could be installed on a Mac, and he did not rush to order an installation on a Windows machine since they are not supported by the school’s network or IT staff.
While Decker and other regular school personnel will provide whatever help they are able to, the robotics program operates outside the regular school support system.
All of the parents have kicked in.
Karen Obermyer, mother of 9-year-old Davis Tyler, conducts the team-building exercises that open each class, and other parents have loaned laptops to the class.
The class will continue in March and will stretch available resources.
It is looking for donations — or just loans — of late-model Windows or Mac laptops that students can use to design and build their robots.
At least one very skilled, experienced volunteer is needed for the next class, since Goldenbogen is planning to open a toy store in Port Townsend and will no longer be available as a teacher.
Teachers and students are already scouting around for a replacement.
“We are looking for a volunteer to take over who is good at Legos, loves to work with kids and can be fingerprinted,” McCuthen joked.
________
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
