Vermont Students Code Competitive Robots at FLL Event
Welcome to DAY 3 of CSED Week 2023
Throughout the week, we will be introducing you to Vermont CSTA Chapter Leaders and Advisory Board and their favorite resources for inspiring students to learn computer science.
From An Hour of Code to Coding a Competitive Robot
In 2020, Charlie MacFadyen (CVU) and Tim O'Leary (Shelburne Community School) earned a 2020 Rowland Foundation Fellowship that is still paying dividends as recently as this Saturday with Shelburne Community School hosting the FIRST LEGO League Northern Vermont Qualifier with 30 FLL teams competing for a chance to advance to the statewide tournament January 20th, 2024 at Norwich University. A more southern Qualifier was held the next day in Rutland. In total, nearly 60 teams competed from across Vermont in the FLL State Qualifier weekend events.
More than 3 years ago, Charlie and Tim's Rowland application stated, "Our project aims to address the inequities and marginalization of females, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming youth that occur within Computer Science (CS) education and the workforce. We envision a world where all can become creators, change-makers, and leaders."
Since then, CS courses have been added in Shelburne where they previously did not exist, and courses at CVU have more than doubled. FLL teams have spread to all four of the towns that make up CVSD: Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, and Williston - while creating connections with the CVU Robohawks team that competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition.
And, the work continues in CVSD to create more robust and equitable CS opportunities for all students, K-12. If you have any questions, Tim O'Leary and Charlie MacFadyen can be reached at toleary@cvsdvt.org and cmacfadyen@cvsdvt.org.
