Mr. Roboto

Over the weekend, my son tried something new: Lego robotics. He's been a Lego building fiend since he's been 4, and this is taking it to the next level. This is part of the Lego league program (http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/teamresources) in which participants build a Lego robot and then program it to do lots of neat things.
The program here in Sioux Falls (http://www.southdakotarobotics.com/index.php) took a major hit last fall when the program director and two other leaders were killed in a plane crash. Thankfully, Dr. Swets' wife took the program over and it's continuing.
I got to hang out and watch my kiddo learn to program a robot to go forward, backward and in a circle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=876be3bMxmc

On top of that, he learned to loop the commands which was super cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwxJ2eHaLMU

The joy on his face when his program worked was the best! I love watching him learn something new and solve a problem.

We don't have a Lego league program in our school yet, but it's something that may be worth pursuing. I know of one third-almost fourth-grader that would love it!