Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
SECME members on a mission to build robots
SECME members on a mission to build robots
By JASON PARSLEY | Forum Publishing Group
November 26, 2008
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/royal_palm/sfl-flrpfrobot1126rpfnov26,0,4093472.story
Seminole Ridge High School seniors Madelyn Gapko and Nadia Beni both like hands-on projects, and that is why they decided to join the newly formed Science, Engineering, Communications and Mathematics club at the school, 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, in Loxahatchee.
The SECME Club allows students to apply what they learn in classes like physics to the real world. So far it has attracted about 60 members.
"It's a good way for me to learn," Gapko said.
While Beni added, "[The hands-on] is mostly what we do, but it's the best part."
The club recently had a movie afternoon to raise funds to purchase at least one Vex Robotics Design System kit so students will have the opportunity to build actual robots.
"This isn't here's a Lego kit, lets see if we can build something," said Erich Landstrom, SECME school coordinator and physics teacher. Over the summer he was introduced to the starter kit and said, "We literally went from a box of parts to two hours later we had built a radio-controlled robot."
Landstrom said he is excited to add the robotics component to the club.
"This is definitely something I want the Seminole Hawks to do," he said.
But first the club needs to raise the money to purchase the $700 kit. The club's next fundraiser will be another movie afternoon in January.
With the kit Landstom said he hopes that his students will be able to enter a robotics competition next year. This year's competition will ask students to build a robot that is able to travel up a ramp and be able to operate independently and by user control.
"My hope, my goal would be to go to the national competition," he said.
So far the club has designed and launched a film-canister model rocket, and constructed a spaghetti bridge from pasta and mini marshmallows.
Call 561-422-2600 for more information.
By JASON PARSLEY | Forum Publishing Group
November 26, 2008
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/royal_palm/sfl-flrpfrobot1126rpfnov26,0,4093472.story
Seminole Ridge High School seniors Madelyn Gapko and Nadia Beni both like hands-on projects, and that is why they decided to join the newly formed Science, Engineering, Communications and Mathematics club at the school, 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, in Loxahatchee.
The SECME Club allows students to apply what they learn in classes like physics to the real world. So far it has attracted about 60 members.
"It's a good way for me to learn," Gapko said.
While Beni added, "[The hands-on] is mostly what we do, but it's the best part."
The club recently had a movie afternoon to raise funds to purchase at least one Vex Robotics Design System kit so students will have the opportunity to build actual robots.
"This isn't here's a Lego kit, lets see if we can build something," said Erich Landstrom, SECME school coordinator and physics teacher. Over the summer he was introduced to the starter kit and said, "We literally went from a box of parts to two hours later we had built a radio-controlled robot."
Landstrom said he is excited to add the robotics component to the club.
"This is definitely something I want the Seminole Hawks to do," he said.
But first the club needs to raise the money to purchase the $700 kit. The club's next fundraiser will be another movie afternoon in January.
With the kit Landstom said he hopes that his students will be able to enter a robotics competition next year. This year's competition will ask students to build a robot that is able to travel up a ramp and be able to operate independently and by user control.
"My hope, my goal would be to go to the national competition," he said.
So far the club has designed and launched a film-canister model rocket, and constructed a spaghetti bridge from pasta and mini marshmallows.
Call 561-422-2600 for more information.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
RU VEXed by robots?
Engaging students in math, science, and technology is one of the most important factors in creating tomorrow's workforce. This is of particular importance in America, where math and science education is lagging behind other countries, leaving our nation trailing in the number of engineers produced each year. At Seminole Ridge High School, the SECME club has undertaken several projects to combat this problem, along with other projects to promote excellence in engineering.
At the annual SECME (Science, Engineering, Communication and Math Excellence) Regional Competition, over 200 high school students square off in engineering contests to team design and test vehicles powered by mousetraps, bridges that withstand pressure testing, water bottle rockets that were launched and evaluated for distance, general knowledge games with the "Brain Bowl," and in literary and artistic competitions with essays, mission patches, banners, and posters.
For the 2008-2009, SECME is facilitating a low-cost, high impact robotics program that will encourage more students to continue their education beyond high school and ultimately to choose science-, technology-, engineering-, and mathematics-related careers. In this highly engaging after-school program, students collaborate with their teachers and industry leaders, using their skills and knowledge in science, math, engineering, and technology to configure high-tech robotics to meet a preset series of tasks.
This is the type of program that builds interest from the ground up. Students acquire a ‘can do spirit’ and they get an opportunity to learn from their mentors and motivators in ways that build confidence and pride in their accomplishments. The VEX Robotics Design System starter kit contains everything students need to design a robot, with vast creative possibilities. This valuable project requires significant funding—each kit costs $321 – and is entirely supported by student fundraising and your donations.
The SECME school coordinators would greatly appreciate any contribution you and your business can provide. All gifts are recognized. Please consider contributing $321 and help us reach our goal before November 30th by making a donation to: Seminole Ridge High School SECME
I hope very much that you will be able to say “yes” to our appeal, and will truly appreciate whatever you can give.
At the annual SECME (Science, Engineering, Communication and Math Excellence) Regional Competition, over 200 high school students square off in engineering contests to team design and test vehicles powered by mousetraps, bridges that withstand pressure testing, water bottle rockets that were launched and evaluated for distance, general knowledge games with the "Brain Bowl," and in literary and artistic competitions with essays, mission patches, banners, and posters.
For the 2008-2009, SECME is facilitating a low-cost, high impact robotics program that will encourage more students to continue their education beyond high school and ultimately to choose science-, technology-, engineering-, and mathematics-related careers. In this highly engaging after-school program, students collaborate with their teachers and industry leaders, using their skills and knowledge in science, math, engineering, and technology to configure high-tech robotics to meet a preset series of tasks.
This is the type of program that builds interest from the ground up. Students acquire a ‘can do spirit’ and they get an opportunity to learn from their mentors and motivators in ways that build confidence and pride in their accomplishments. The VEX Robotics Design System starter kit contains everything students need to design a robot, with vast creative possibilities. This valuable project requires significant funding—each kit costs $321 – and is entirely supported by student fundraising and your donations.
The SECME school coordinators would greatly appreciate any contribution you and your business can provide. All gifts are recognized. Please consider contributing $321 and help us reach our goal before November 30th by making a donation to: Seminole Ridge High School SECME
I hope very much that you will be able to say “yes” to our appeal, and will truly appreciate whatever you can give.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Seminole Ridge Students Discuss Spacecraft With NASA Scientists
On Tuesday, June 3, students in Erich Landstrom’s science class at Seminole Ridge High School joined a teleconference with NASA scientists from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif.
The teleconference was held to discuss essays the students wrote regarding the Cassini spacecraft. Launched more than a decade ago, Cassini has been sending back never-before-seen views of Saturn, its rings and its moons for nearly four years. Part of the NASA Cassini team’s job is to pick which image targets will yield the best science results. High school students were asked to write a 500-word essay on why the image they chose would be the most scientifically rich for Cassini’s cameras to take. Essays were judged by a panel of Cassini scientists, mission planners and by an education and outreach team. Cassini’s cameras will take images of three designated targets on June 10.
State Rep. Shelley Vana also visited the class in her capacity with the School District of Palm Beach County and also as a legislator. The students included 2008 graduating senior Amanda Canete, junior Justin Bloom, junior Sarah Shields, freshman Edwin Keo, freshman Amanda Fenner and junior Sharon Summel.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Seminole Ridge SECME Club Competes In District Olympiad
Science, Engineering, Communication, Mathematics and Enrichment (SECME) students at Seminole Ridge High School competed in the 2008 District Olympiad on March 29, returning with several honors:
• In the category of Balsawood Bridge Building, Liz Camp and Vicki Glass’s structure held 68 pounds before breaking.
• In the category of Water Bottle Rocket, Nick Moore’s and T.J. Gipe’s rocket was airborne for 7.8 seconds.
• In the category of Brain Bowl, the Hawks fell to second-place winners Forest Hill High School.
• Kelsey Chase (essay) and Kaitlin Kilpatrick (poster) earned honors for submissions on the theme “Lighting the Torch to Empower Future Leaders.”
SECME coaches Erich Landstrom and Alison Baird thank the team for a great job.
• In the category of Balsawood Bridge Building, Liz Camp and Vicki Glass’s structure held 68 pounds before breaking.
• In the category of Water Bottle Rocket, Nick Moore’s and T.J. Gipe’s rocket was airborne for 7.8 seconds.
• In the category of Brain Bowl, the Hawks fell to second-place winners Forest Hill High School.
• Kelsey Chase (essay) and Kaitlin Kilpatrick (poster) earned honors for submissions on the theme “Lighting the Torch to Empower Future Leaders.”
SECME coaches Erich Landstrom and Alison Baird thank the team for a great job.
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