Igniting a Passion for Robotics: Retired Engineers Inspire Young Coders in Steamboat Springs Schools

Fourth and fifth graders in the Steamboat Springs School District recently had the opportunity to learn about coding and robotics thanks to the generous efforts of two retired engineers.

Kim and Jack Smith, retired engineers from Texas Instruments, have a passion for kids and bringing STEM to the next generation. Kim has served on many board committees focused on kids, including the Boys and Girls Club, Junior Achievement, and North Routt Community Charter School. The Smiths have also coached the 4-H Robotics club for eight years, helping the team achieve the state title for several years. The Smiths value bringing STEM to mountain towns since kids aren’t exposed to as much industry here as in urban areas. Due to their extensive community involvement, the Smiths established connections with the community, ultimately leading them to host mini-workshops for students in Steamboat schools.

Robin Alt, a gifted education teacher at Soda Creek Elementary and Strawberry Park Elementary, organized this opportunity to accommodate students eager to learn how to build a robot. She saw it as a valuable introduction that would nurture their interest. One workshop was held at Soda Creek Elementary (SCE), and students from SCE and Strawberry Park Elementary (SPE) attended. A similar session also took place at Sleeping Giant School.

The Smiths offer two levels of robotics and engineering instruction. In Level I, primarily for fourth-grade students, participants build a robot and write code to make the robot perform basic functions, such as moving forward and backing up. Level II, targeted at fifth graders, involves programming the robot to navigate a more complex obstacle course, including making 90 degree turns and recognizing obstacles in the path. For those who complete the Level II obstacle course, the goal is to enhance their robot's performance by completing the course more quickly.

"This type of exercise is beneficial for our gifted kids, who often struggle with perfectionist tendencies," Alt explained. "They must face a lot of trial and error when things don’t go as planned."

The Smiths provide all necessary equipment for the students, including robots, laptops, and instructional materials they created themselves. Their instructional materials break down coding sequences into understandable components for the students.

“You watch them get so excited about robotics and coding,” said Kim. “We are getting them excited at such an early age.”

In addition to coding and robotics skills, the Smiths also discussed various career opportunities available in engineering. Kim Smith is passionate about teaching students how engineering can help people and animals. She asks the students, “How many of you want to go into a career that helps save lives?” 

“You go more from ‘Wow, engineering is boring’ to more of a ‘Wow, look at what kind of impact you can have from this field!’”, Kim said. 

“We are extremely grateful for their partnership,” Alt said. “Taking the time to talk to kids about the numerous possibilities in engineering is incredibly important.”