Empowering the Next Generation of Engineers and Innovators with Robolink

When Robolink started in 2012, it didn’t expect kids to be so enthusiastic about working with robots and drones that even those as young as 3 would want to join its after-school program.

Robolink is a San Diego startup that holds robotics and coding classes for kids in third to tenth grade. It holds after-school program classes in 15 schools across San Diego County, with activities ranging from coding with Python to building actual live drones.

STEM Education: Programming Drones with Robolink

From programming robots to self-driving cars, Robolink aims to make science and engineering engaging for kids through robotic kits—and it’s been a huge success. Robolink has shipped over 25, 000 robots. These robotic kits are not just popular with the kids but also with hobbyists and builders.

While math and science are agreeably essential subjects of study, universities are still struggling to keep students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field. According to a study conducted by RTI International on college students with STEM majors, students usually transfer out of the STEM field by spring and they don’t come back. But, why?

According to students, a majority did not have sufficient background in STEM before entering college. Due to the lack of foundations necessary to sustain performance in STEM coursework, students prefer to abandon the STEM field altogether.

STEM subjects aren’t necessarily intuitive, nor are they particularly easy, so formal training is needed. When a kid fails to understand a STEM concept, it can make them feel unintelligent and frustrated. This might reinforce to them that the subjects are incomprehensible and not worth the effort. However, STEM subjects can be successfully learned through the process of repeated trial-and-error as well as direct hands-on application, which is what Robolink does through its robotic kits.

In her recent sit-down with engineering.com’s Dan Hedges, Robolink Director of Education Kristen Koeblin shared her thoughts on the role of STEM in education, and the importance of science and engineering in understanding how the world works. According to Koeblin, “It’s a way for kids to make things come to life.”

Why STEM Education is Important with Robolink:

For middle or high school students who enjoy bringing their ideas to life, they can join the Impossible Science Student Challenge. The top five finalists will have exclusive interviews and the opportunity to have their project distributed worldwide by engineering.com.

If your team wins, your school gets the opportunity to witness a LIVE Impossible Science Stage Show by World Champion Magician and Impossible Science curator, Jason Latimer.

Learn more about the Impossible Science Student Challenge here.