Behrend

LEGO robotics competition draws 25 youth teams to Penn State Behrend

Twenty-five teams of students in grades 4-8 competed in the FIRST LEGO League Masterpiece Challenge at Penn State Behrend on Feb. 10. Credit: Penn State Behrend / Penn State. Creative Commons

ERIE, Pa. — Twenty-five teams of students in grades four through eight competed in the FIRST LEGO League Masterpiece Challenge at Penn State Behrend on Feb. 10. They built and programed LEGO robots that had to navigate a museum-themed tabletop obstacle course.

Teams earned points when their robot activated a feature of the game map — a tiny 3D cinema, for example, or an augmented-reality statue.

“It’s all about innovating and encouraging art in technology — how to promote it, and how to integrate it,” said Melanie Ford, director of Youth Education Outreach at Penn State Behrend. “It showcases all of the STEAM fields — science, technology, engineering, art and math.”

Teams also earned points for the design of their robot and their ability to work collaboratively during the tabletop challenge. The event, which was held in the Junker Center, was free and open to the public.

To learn more about the FIRST LEGO League regional challenge, click on the video below.

 

Last Updated February 13, 2024