¿Funciona? Impact of FIRST Robotics Programs on Minority Students
Virgilio González, Pilar González · 2023
This paper presents a Work in Progress relating the impacts observed by offering access to the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) family of robotics programs on a significant minority-serving community on the US-Mexico border. Many programs oriented to$\mathbf{K-12}$students involve robotics, such as VEX, BEST robotics, and FIRST. We focus specifically on FIRST because the program focuses on developing multiple skills beyond learning about technology. In 2010, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) started hosting the FIRST Lego League (FLL) event oriented to 4th-8th grade students, and a year later, began with the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC, 7th to 12th grades), as well as FLL Jr (1st to 4th grade). We also supported the FIRST Robotic Competition (FRC for 9th to 12th grades), assisted teams in the region, hosted events in 2018 and 2019, and planned for 2024. The FLL program has an equally important research component where students learn about a societal problem involving technology, propose an innovative solution, and creatively present their proposal. In all three programs, FLL, FTC, and FRC, the students are encouraged to help their community by applying what they learned and also promote STEM. Finally, the spirit of the events encourages cooperation and supporting all other teams while doing their best. This last idea has been called “Gracious Professionalism.” As we introduce younger students to this series of programs, they develop their academic, problem-solving, social interaction, and working ethics. Working as a team coach and mentor gives you a unique perspective, as one can see the students working through their zone of proximal development (ZPD) and making sense through situated learning of the constructs learned in the classroom. As we had started FLL in a particular grade school class, not only students asked for the continuance of the programs, but parents as well. We have observed the students' increased interest in STEM throughout these years. Most notably, the high school graduates who entered our programs at UTEP exhibit better skills to engage in college courses. The critical thinking skills gained through research and the social abilities to help others enable them to navigate successfully the college environment, particularly on a commuter campus. Many of the FIRST alums became volunteers for the K-12 programs, creating a student organization in robotics and enabling the academic units to offer a new minor degree in robotics to serve multiple engineering disciplines. During the 2022–2023 season alone, more than 900 K-12 students actively participated in the events, and around 30 college students plus several faculty members and professionals got involved.