Background
The Robotics Club was formed during the 2011-2012 school year with a VEX Robotics Kit donation. Now DMS has seven fully operational and competitive teams. Our goal is to help the students build team leadership and critical problem solving skills. We are using the VEX Robotics format which was developed and engineered with co-curricular and extracurricular competitions in mind. The seven teams compete with one another four times during the school year. We are not a UIL sponsored extracurricular activity, however we are sponsored by the DMS Academic Booster Club and as such there is an annual fee of $45.00 to join. That fee can be waived through 7 available scholarships or if you elect to coach your child’s team. If you are interested in a scholarship, please request one through your DMS Science teacher.
The Robotics Club was formed during the 2011-2012 school year with a VEX Robotics Kit donation. Now DMS has seven fully operational and competitive teams. Our goal is to help the students build team leadership and critical problem solving skills. We are using the VEX Robotics format which was developed and engineered with co-curricular and extracurricular competitions in mind. The seven teams compete with one another four times during the school year. We are not a UIL sponsored extracurricular activity, however we are sponsored by the DMS Academic Booster Club and as such there is an annual fee of $45.00 to join. That fee can be waived through 7 available scholarships or if you elect to coach your child’s team. If you are interested in a scholarship, please request one through your DMS Science teacher.
Involvement
Parent Involvement in the Robotics Club is necessary for the continued success of our organization. We are always on the lookout for parents who are willing to coach a team or provide volunteer support during competitions. If you are willing and able to mentor a team of 6 children, one day a week please access the Robotics Application and the Volunteer Applications available online at http://dowellabclub.weebly.com. Please remember that it is not necessary to know anything about Robotics in order to coach a team. These children just require your parental oversight and encouragement. We currently have teen Robotic mentors coming in from McKinney Boyd High School to direct the actual construction of the robot and to train the children. The goal of the Robotics Club is to enhance your child’s love of STEM. Parental involvement in the actual building and wiring of the robot is discouraged.
Team Development
The children have several different positions they can hold while working on a team. Those roles should change throughout the year giving each child an opportunity to experience a different aspect of a project environment:
Parent Involvement in the Robotics Club is necessary for the continued success of our organization. We are always on the lookout for parents who are willing to coach a team or provide volunteer support during competitions. If you are willing and able to mentor a team of 6 children, one day a week please access the Robotics Application and the Volunteer Applications available online at http://dowellabclub.weebly.com. Please remember that it is not necessary to know anything about Robotics in order to coach a team. These children just require your parental oversight and encouragement. We currently have teen Robotic mentors coming in from McKinney Boyd High School to direct the actual construction of the robot and to train the children. The goal of the Robotics Club is to enhance your child’s love of STEM. Parental involvement in the actual building and wiring of the robot is discouraged.
Team Development
The children have several different positions they can hold while working on a team. Those roles should change throughout the year giving each child an opportunity to experience a different aspect of a project environment:
- Team Leader - leads the individual Robotics team through the design, construction, and competition
- Chassis Builder – creates the main base and drive train of the robot
- Driver – learns to control the robot with speed and efficiency
- Electronics – wires all the electrical components of the robot
- Mechanism – works with the chassis builder(s) on parts of the robot that perform a specific task.