Girl Scouts teams rock the lego robotics competition
It was the first round of Utah's FIRST LEGO League tournaments on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Central Davis Junior High. It was one of five competitions taking place across the state. Children age 9 to 14 build Lego robots and compete in teams on a thematic playing field. Utah's FIRST LEGO League program is headquartered at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah. It was organized to promote creativity and an interest in technology, innovation and engineering among Utah's children. (KELLY KEITER/Standard-Examiner)
It was the first round of Utah's FIRST LEGO League tournaments on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Central Davis Junior High. It was one of five competitions taking place across the state. Children age 9 to 14 build Lego robots and compete in teams on a thematic playing field. Utah's FIRST LEGO League program is headquartered at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah. It was organized to promote creativity and an interest in technology, innovation and engineering among Utah's children. (KELLY KEITER/Standard-Examiner)
It was the first round of Utah's FIRST LEGO League tournaments on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Central Davis Junior High. It was one of five competitions taking place across the state. Children age 9 to 14 build Lego robots and compete in teams on a thematic playing field. Utah's FIRST LEGO League program is headquartered at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah. It was organized to promote creativity and an interest in technology, innovation and engineering among Utah's children. (KELLY KEITER/Standard-Examiner)
Michael Grolling, Christopher Liu-Li and Luke Andruzzi from the "Lego Trio" speak to the Standard-Examiner after competing in the first round of Utah's FIRST LEGO League tournaments on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Central Davis Junior High. Children age 9 to 14 build Lego robots and compete in teams on a thematic playing field. The program was organized to promote creativity and an interest in technology, innovation and engineering among Utah's children. (KELLY KEITER/Standard-Examiner)
It was the first round of Utah's FIRST LEGO League tournaments on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Central Davis Junior High. It was one of five competitions taking place across the state. Children age 9 to 14 build Lego robots and compete in teams on a thematic playing field. Utah's FIRST LEGO League program is headquartered at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah. The program was organized to promote creativity and an interest in technology, innovation and engineering among Utah children. (KELLY KEITER/Standard-Examiner)
It was the first round of Utah's FIRST LEGO League tournaments on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Central Davis Junior High. It was one of five competitions taking place across the state. Children age 9 to 14 build Lego robots and compete in teams on a thematic playing field. Utah's FIRST LEGO League program is headquartered at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah. It was organized to promote creativity and an interest in technology, innovation and engineering among Utah's children. (KELLY KEITER/Standard-Examiner)
It was the first round of Utah's FIRST LEGO League tournaments on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Central Davis Junior High. It was one of five competitions taking place across the state. Children age 9 to 14 build Lego robots and compete in teams on a thematic playing field. Utah's FIRST LEGO League program is headquartered at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah. It was organized to promote creativity and an interest in technology, innovation and engineering among Utah's children. (KELLY KEITER/Standard-Examiner)
It was the first round of Utah's FIRST LEGO League tournaments on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Central Davis Junior High. It was one of five competitions taking place across the state. Children age 9 to 14 build Lego robots and compete in teams on a thematic playing field. Utah's FIRST LEGO League program is headquartered at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah. It was organized to promote creativity and an interest in technology, innovation and engineering among Utah's children. (KELLY KEITER/Standard-Examiner)
It was the first round of Utah's FIRST LEGO League tournaments on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Central Davis Junior High. It was one of five competitions taking place across the state. Children age 9 to 14 build Lego robots and compete in teams on a thematic playing field. Utah's FIRST LEGO League program is headquartered at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah. It was organized to promote creativity and an interest in technology, innovation and engineering among Utah's children. (KELLY KEITER/Standard-Examiner)
It was the first round of Utah's FIRST LEGO League tournaments on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Central Davis Junior High. It was one of five competitions taking place across the state. Children age 9 to 14 build Lego robots and compete in teams on a thematic playing field. Utah's FIRST LEGO League program is headquartered at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah. It was organized to promote creativity and an interest in technology, innovation and engineering among Utah's children. (KELLY KEITER/Standard-Examiner)
It was the first round of Utah's FIRST LEGO League tournaments on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Central Davis Junior High. It was one of five competitions taking place across the state. Children age 9 to 14 build Lego robots and compete in teams on a thematic playing field. Utah's FIRST LEGO League program is headquartered at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah. It was organized to promote creativity and an interest in technology, innovation and engineering among Utah's children. (KELLY KEITER/Standard-Examiner)
It was the first round of Utah's FIRST LEGO League tournaments on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Central Davis Junior High. It was one of five competitions taking place across the state. Children age 9 to 14 build Lego robots and compete in teams on a thematic playing field. Utah's FIRST LEGO League program is headquartered at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah. It was organized to promote creativity and an interest in technology, innovation and engineering among Utah's children. (KELLY KEITER/Standard-Examiner)
It was the first round of Utah's FIRST LEGO League tournaments on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Central Davis Junior High. It was one of five competitions taking place across the state. Children age 9 to 14 build Lego robots and compete in teams on a thematic playing field. Utah's FIRST LEGO League program is headquartered at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah. It was organized to promote creativity and an interest in technology, innovation and engineering among Utah's children. (KELLY KEITER/Standard-Examiner)
LAYTON — More than 100 area students gathered Saturday to test their mastery of Lego robot design and programming against that of their peers.
Central Davis Junior High was among several Utah locations hosting the first round of this year’s FIRST Lego League competition (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). At the school’s gymnasium, kids age 9 to 14, each a member of one of 17 competitive teams, huddled around their Lego creations. They put their robots through practice runs while waiting to be called for competition, and to be scored on the number of tasks their robots could complete.
“It’s a great learning experience, and it’s lots of fun,” said Alyssa Williams, 12, of Layton. Alyssa was a member of the Gorgeous Geeks team, a Girl Scouts group. “You learn about design and programming and how to keep people safe in a natural disaster.”
This year’s theme was disasters. Teams were asked to chose one, then plan their robot’s functions around it.
“We chose earthquakes, and learned a lot about what to do when one happens,” Alyssa said. “The major thing we learned is that through teamwork, almost anything is possible. Almost. You still can’t fly without an airplane or a jet pack.”
Brandy Strand was project leader for six Girl Scout Lego League teams.
“Women are under-represented in the STEM fields,” she said. “This is working to empower the girls. When they know they can do it is when we will see more women in science, technology, engineering and math. I’m excited just to see so many girls participating in the process.”
Twenty feet away, Noah Beard, 13, of Ogden, watched practice runs for the robot created by his team, the Ascengers, from Ascend Academy.
“The funnest part was designing with Legos and programming the robot,” said Noah. “We picked a flood, and made a sandbagging machine. I think a larger version would work pretty well in a real flood. And we had fun working together, as a team. Every part of it was fun.”
Marshall Parish, 12, was part of a Team Hill, from Hill Air Force Base, where he lives.
“We came last year to watch and this year to compete,” Marshall said. “I liked the programming the best, but it was also the most frustrating part.”
Kirk Schmierer works at Total Quality Systems, the Hill contractor that sponsors Team Hill.
“To have fun and learn are the biggest goals,” he said. “The kids also learned about the design process, where you test, make changes and test again. They also learned to set goals in a specific time frame, and they learned teamwork.
“They used each member’s interests and strengths to determine their jobs. When I went to school, you did all your homework and your projects by yourself. In the real world, you work as are part of a team, and education doesn’t always prepare young people for that. And since these children are home schooled, we are always looking for opportunities to work as a team.”
Schmierer said some of the children who didn’t know what programming or software was at the beginning of the project were now anxious to explore further.
“Now that they’ve done it, they’re already talking about coming back next year.”
Michelle Howard, the event manager and a Layton City employee, said the partnership with the University of Utah, which organizes the event, was a win-win situation.
“The University of Utah was happy to get a place for the competition that was north of them, and in Layton City, most of what we offer our young people is sports,” she said. “The event filled a niche for our kids who don’t do sports. It gets the kids involved and provides an opportunity through our recreation department. We are happy to provide such a fun activity.”
Contact reporter Nancy Van Valkenburg at 801-625-4275 or nvan@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @S_ENancyVanV.
