Programs Spark Love for Robotics in Columbus, GA

Courtesy of Steam Inventors

Students in Columbus, GA, are preparing for careers in robotics long before they set foot in college classrooms, thanks to innovative programs that offer young students opportunities to engage with robotics technology and engineering. These programs not only teach students the technical skills through hands-on experiences, but they also provide valuable lessons in problem-solving, teamwork and leadership. Check out what’s happening with robotics in Columbus.

The Columbus Space Program

The Columbus Space Program is an initiative of the region’s public schools and Columbus State University centered around engaging students in STEM through hands-on learning and robotics. The program hosts four high school robotics teams, including the FIRST Robotics Team 4188. 

“STEM subjects can often be intimidating to students. Robotics teams, such as the Columbus Space Program, take learning outside of dry, abstract textbooks and put it into the hands of students by providing engaging real-world learning experiences,” says Erinn Bentley, lead media mentor for the Columbus Space Program. 

Students in the program learn to design, manufacture and assemble a 120-pound robot using CAD software. They also learn to create the electrical infrastructure and coding needed for the robot to perform on the competition field. Bentley says by acquiring both technical skills and soft skills, such as collaborative problem solving, students are better equipped to succeed in college and the workforce. 

“Our team is more than robots. Students are also trained in graphic design, photography, videography, and grant writing. They assist in fundraising by creating promotional literature and videos to attract sponsors, applying for grants and communicating regularly with our donors,” Bentley says. “Honing these communication and professional skills has made our students successful in applying for college scholarships, writing college entrance essays, and gaining STEM internships and jobs.” 

STEAM Inventors

STEAM Inventors, an after-school and extracurricular educational center with an innovation pathway that includes robotics, models its programs after the levels in karate training. Students start their path with a white belt and can ultimately earn a black belt. Each belt, or level, consists of 12 weeks of learning skills, such as coding, robotics and 3D printing.

Students start as early as pre-K and elementary school engaging in science experiments. Middle school students learn to build their own laptop using a 3D printer, and high school students have the opportunity to return as mentors to younger kids. 

“Technology has become an integral part of our daily life. No matter what your career is or what your job is, you have to know the technology of it and be literate in that technology,” says Aryya Bhattacharyya, CEO of STEAM Inventors. 

Studies show that if the kids don’t get the required exposure during the elementary and middle school years, they probably lose their interest and go to a different path, Bhattacharyya says. 

“When we introduce students to technologies early in their education, they are more likely to adopt the technologies when they grow up,” Bhattacharyya says. “With AI and other technological progression, there won’t be any choices; you either adopt, or unfortunately, you will be left out.”