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PITTSBURG —
The students in the Pittsburg State Construct Your Future summer technology camp have spent their week making bridges and mixing concrete. But these students aren’t college-age. Most aren’t even out of elementary school. And to be fair, the bridges were made of Popsicle sticks and hot glue.
Yet these students are learning some of the basic tenets in the weeklong summer technology camps that will be used if they do become college students at some point. Three camps are taking place this week: camps on robotics, plastics and construction.
These students are learning through a variety of activities, which helps them retain the information.
“We try to match the activities to their interest,” said Jim Otter, chairman of the Department of Construction Management and Construction Engineering Technology and construction camp leader. “We do a little video, and the kids like that. We do a litle hands-on activities, and the kids like that. We do a little computer activities, and the kids like that.”
The camps started with the robotics camp, which remains the most popular, with roughly 30-35 students. Later, the construction and plastics camps were added, as well as last week’s automotive technology camp, in its first year.
This week’s camps are mostly the basics of each field, and an advanced session will take place next week.
The camps teach several themes besides just the specifics of each field.
“The camps have some common goals, and the first is that teamwork is critical,” Otter said.
“We teach problem solving and critical thinking, and how to create something. We focus on those creative skills. We also want to develop them as leaders. We want to expose the kids to technology and get them to know a little about construction or a little about robotics. That way, they can find there is more to robotics than just clipping Legos together.”
The camps also include a fair amount of competition, from games of tug-of-war using robots to seeing whose bridge can hold the most weight.
“We think competition is really good when you do any activity,” Otter said. “It’s one thing to teach kids spelling. It’s another to have a spelling bee. Some kids will work harder for that. Competition is a huge motivator.”
Otter said he hopes the camps can get to the point of expanding, and offering scholarships and other help for interested students. But for now, Otter is glad to see young students interested in technology.
The students in the Pittsburg State Construct Your Future summer technology camp have spent their week making bridges and mixing concrete. But these students aren’t college-age. Most aren’t even out of elementary school. And to be fair, the bridges were made of Popsicle sticks and hot glue.
Yet these students are learning some of the basic tenets in the weeklong summer technology camps that will be used if they do become college students at some point. Three camps are taking place this week: camps on robotics, plastics and construction.
These students are learning through a variety of activities, which helps them retain the information.
“We try to match the activities to their interest,” said Jim Otter, chairman of the Department of Construction Management and Construction Engineering Technology and construction camp leader. “We do a little video, and the kids like that. We do a litle hands-on activities, and the kids like that. We do a little computer activities, and the kids like that.”
The camps started with the robotics camp, which remains the most popular, with roughly 30-35 students. Later, the construction and plastics camps were added, as well as last week’s automotive technology camp, in its first year.
This week’s camps are mostly the basics of each field, and an advanced session will take place next week.
The camps teach several themes besides just the specifics of each field.
“The camps have some common goals, and the first is that teamwork is critical,” Otter said.
“We teach problem solving and critical thinking, and how to create something. We focus on those creative skills. We also want to develop them as leaders. We want to expose the kids to technology and get them to know a little about construction or a little about robotics. That way, they can find there is more to robotics than just clipping Legos together.”
The camps also include a fair amount of competition, from games of tug-of-war using robots to seeing whose bridge can hold the most weight.
“We think competition is really good when you do any activity,” Otter said. “It’s one thing to teach kids spelling. It’s another to have a spelling bee. Some kids will work harder for that. Competition is a huge motivator.”
Otter said he hopes the camps can get to the point of expanding, and offering scholarships and other help for interested students. But for now, Otter is glad to see young students interested in technology.
“It’s a part of our mission here,” Otter said. “Our strategic plan includes K-12 education involvement. We’re focused on higher education for nine months of the year. But the other three months, we have to reach to the community. This is a part of our outreach to the community. A lot of kids in the summer after baseball season, they’re parents are looking for something for their kids to do. Not only that, but there are a lot of athletic things for kids, and not many academic options.”
On the Web:
See the camps’ website at: www.pittstate.edu/college/technology/tech-camps/
Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 132.
