Chatter and laughter echoes throughout the room as the teacher quiets students down and explains to them what objectives they must accomplish. It seems like an ordinary classroom, but as scanning the room, one sees that robots are scattered among diligently working students.

These robots belong to the S.T.E.M Robotics Club, whose members are currently working on their robot(s) for their chosen theme “Baxter Plays Soccer”. Robotics club students are thus responsible for designing, building, and programming a robot that can kick, pick-up, and throw a ball.

Biology/AP Environmental teacher and club sponsor Mrs. Beltz has worked with the club for the past four years, guiding  students through the the robot design and programming processes.

During club time, Beltz teaches students to actively problem solve, while creating their robots, building and testing over and over again to find a failure and fix the robot until it functions properly.

“They learn to use the engineering process while they’re actively engaged in solving a problem,” Beltz said.

S.T.E.M Robotics teaches students not only about engineering processes, but also teaches them life lessons, such as teamwork, the value of deadlines, and time management.

“Teamwork, they have to work in teams of three in order to do this, and they also need deadlines in order to finish this by that deadline. It’s important to finish by the deadline or else they don’t get to compete,” Beltz said. “so all the work they do during the year is practice… it’s a matter of learning how to manage their time and working in a group together.”