Financial Literacy for STEM Students: Why It Matters

By Devin Partida

Financial literacy is vital for STEM students, as it teaches them to handle money well for challenges like project funding in their careers. Such a skill empowers these learners to make wise decisions for long-term goals like buying a home or planning for retirement. Here’s why knowing how to manage money is so important in STEM.

Preparing the Next Generation of Welders for Robotics and Automation

By Ellie Gabel

Welding remains a vital industry, crucial in everything from construction to manufacturing. It’s a field that has continually evolved, adapting to technological advancements. Recently, there’s been a significant shift towards incorporating robotics and automation in welding processes.

This shift is transforming the very nature of welding work. As a result, there’s an urgent need to prepare the next generation of welders. They must possess new skills and knowledge to excel in an environment where robotics and automation play a crucial role. This preparation maintains industry standards and ensures continuous innovation in this critical field.

The Robotic Future of STEM Education: A Look into Diverse Learning Approaches

By Katie Brenneman 

There’s little doubt that science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) will continue to be a vital aspect of our society for the foreseeable future. Even many industries that aren’t obviously STEM-based are still driven by a range of tech tools. Our everyday lives are populated by ever more advanced hardware and software. It’s no wonder, then, that a solid STEM education is considered essential for today’s students.

Yet, one of the prevalent challenges of STEM education is boosting engagement among a more diverse student base. This vital collection of subjects is still not always inclusive to learners from different backgrounds. Fortunately, robotics can be a powerful tool here. It’s a fascinating and engaging subject while also holding enormous potential for driving, supporting, and encouraging diverse STEM learning practices.

Using AI to Encourage Productive Struggle in Math

By Vicki Davis

Image by macrovector on Freepik 

Students ‘don’t need an answer, they need help with the process,’ and combining ChatGPT with Wolfram Alpha is one way to guide them through it.

Santa's Special Gift: A NAO Robot for Chase, a Kid with Autism

Every holiday season, stories of heartwarming miracles and unexpected gifts remind us of the magic of Christmas. This year, we bring you the heartwarming tale of a young boy named Chase, who has autism, and his extraordinary Christmas wish that came true. Chase asked Santa for a very special gift - a NAO robot. Little did he know that this amazing present will bring a positive transformation in his life.

The Decline in Educational Performance: A Robotics Intervention

Image Source: https://www.oecd.org/publication/pisa-2022-results/ 

The recent PISA test scores for OECD countries reveal a concerning trend: a noticeable decline in mathematics and science performance among students. These subjects are pillars of modern education, underpinning critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for the workforce of tomorrow. Reading, while seemingly stable, also requires renewed focus to ensure comprehensive literacy. In the wake of these findings, it's imperative to find innovative approaches to re-engage students. Robotics education offers a multifaceted solution to this challenge, providing a dynamic learning experience that can reignite students' passion and proficiency in these key areas.

Innovative STEM Education: Crafting IoT Solutions

Image Source: Unsplash

Looking to the Future of Education

Image Source: Pexels

By Katie Brenneman 

Education is essential to the development of each generation. Yet, it’s important to recognize that education also develops. New tools and priorities influence both what is taught and how the information is passed on.

Our contemporary society is particularly influenced by the growth of the digital landscape. Artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, and other tools are quickly becoming core components of everyday life. So, how is this likely to affect the future of education? Let’s take a closer look at what we can expect.

Introducing Students to New & Evolving STEM Careers

In the fast-paced world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), educators need to stay ahead of the curve. As robotics and STEM educators, you play a crucial role in preparing the next generation for the evolving landscape of STEM careers. Here are some ways to introduce students to new and exciting career opportunities to ensure a diverse and well-matched workforce. 

Is Google Arts and Culture a Good Replacement for Google Expeditions?

Since Google Expeditions was discontinued on June 30, 2021, Google redirects everyone to use the Google Arts and Culture app and presents it as a replacement for Expeditions.

Google listed a lot of content from all around the world in the app, but is it a good solution for in-class virtual reality field trips?

Google Arts and Culture app include many of the experiences that were available on Google Expeditions. However, we at RobotLAB tried and tested the app and there are major differences and issues we wanted you to be aware of.

Our teacher partners have shared with us their thoughts on Google's alternative, and they all mainly agree:

Google Arts and Culture is a great source for content, but NOT suitable for in-class virtual field trips.