Tyl Robotics Curriculum Benefits from Montville Education Foundation Grant

A press release from the Montville Education Foundation:

Thanks to the generosity of donors to the Montville Education Foundation, Inc. (MEF) Leonard J. Tyl Middle School Robotics Curriculum & After School Program is the proud recipient of a $4,758.47 grant from MEF.  

Tyl was awarded the grant to build a more robust program to reach more students and encourage their interest in engineering and technology-based curriculum.

Students will use the grant funds to purchase the specific VEX robotic equipment and software needed to build a second robot, and then students will compete with their robots in various competitions at the local, regional, and national levels. Students work on building and programming robots, research other teams’ robots and performance, and strategize for future competitions. Robot tasks during competitions include careful maneuvering through obstacle courses, small object gathering and manipulation.

Robotics Curriculum & After School Program teacher, Dan Peterson and parent Marcia Nelson, prepared and submitted the grant application and stressed the importance of the robotics program for student learning. Receiving the grant for VEX robotics equipment will provide the students at Tyl Middle School with an opportunity to continue to enhance opportunities for exploration about computer programming, engineering and design, working together in teams, project management and participating in a competition.

Furthermore, Peterson noted how even a fun activity like participating in robotics competitions can lead to better opportunities for students’ futures, noting that students “may one day become creators, designers, and innovators in the fields of biomedical, civil, mechanical, chemical, or environmental engineering. Participating in the VEX robotics team will help them develop the skills they will need to be successful in those fields."   

Nelson added she is, “busy recruiting new students for the Robotics Program.  It is a wonderful program with great opportunities for the students.”

The Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation seeks to increase student interest and involvement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by engaging students in hands-on, sustainable and affordable curriculum-based robotics engineering programs across the U.S. and internationally. The REC Foundation develops partnerships with K-12 education, higher education, government, industry, and the nonprofit community to achieve this work.

MEF funds educational grants community wide.  To learn more about and/or to donate to MEF visit: www.montvilleeducationfoundation.org.