Robotics evolves from a club to a class
Last year, students may have noticed a particular group of kids who would hang around after school hours, sometimes for long periods of time.
A lot of people didn’t know why they were there, or what they were doing that took up so much time.
It wasn’t sports kids, or ASB kids, or drumline.
No, these students were holed up in a tiny room on the edge of the quad, building a robot.
Robotics teacher David Talcott said “When we started we basically had nothing. In the last year, we’ve accumulated tools, space, and more students.”
Robotics started out without a large space to work, or very much equipment.
The goal of both the club and newly-founded class is to build a functional robot to compete at the Silicon Valley Regional Competition (SVRC).
Principal Ralph Crame said, “Right now they’re learning all the techniques and what they need to know in terms of engineering, and Mr. Talcott is providing lessons to prepare them for the build season.”
“In the club last year, everything was after school, which made it harder to have enough time. Build season is January through February, and those hours would be everyday after school from 3 p.m. to six or eight,” said junior Joyce Satzherr.
Robotics first became an official Carlmont club last year. Previously, it had been a joint team with Woodside, but last year Carlmont’s student enrollment in the club had grown enough for them to branch off and start their own official team.
Just one year after being an official club on campus, robotics has become an elective class.
To become a class, Carlmont administration has to approve the addition of a new elective.
“To get the class established we had lots of meetings with Mr. Talcott and Ms. Cho to plan for the class, as well as meeting with the guidance department and making sure enough people would sign up,” said Crame.
Robotics class takes place during sixth period, and counts as UC-certified elective credits.
One reason for the addition of the class is that the enrollment of students in robotics has grown from 22 active members to 50 since first becoming a club. Another factor was a lack of necessary hours.
Saltzherr said, “We found that we were running out of time and we wanted to have more training and get a more diverse range of skills.”
With the new setup, students who are in robotics can choose to either be in the class, in the after school club, or in both, such as Saltzherr.
“Now with a class we have a lot of new people who are in sports or have outside of school commitments,” said Saltzherr.
For students who were interested in robotics, but couldn’t fit the after school hours into their schedule, this class offers them a way to get involved.
Senior Kyle Jung said, “I joined robotics this year because I always wanted to join the team, but didn’t have time until it became a class.”
The team is planning on competing in up to two contests this year, and although they aren’t holding out for a win, the group plans on representing Carlmont positively, and having fun.
“I think we’re hoping to represent our school and ourselves very well [at the contest]. Our goal isn’t to win just yet, but I think we can definitely show that we know what we’re doing and that we do good things as a team,” said Talcott.
A lot of people didn’t know why they were there, or what they were doing that took up so much time.
It wasn’t sports kids, or ASB kids, or drumline.
No, these students were holed up in a tiny room on the edge of the quad, building a robot.
Robotics teacher David Talcott said “When we started we basically had nothing. In the last year, we’ve accumulated tools, space, and more students.”
Robotics started out without a large space to work, or very much equipment.
The goal of both the club and newly-founded class is to build a functional robot to compete at the Silicon Valley Regional Competition (SVRC).
Principal Ralph Crame said, “Right now they’re learning all the techniques and what they need to know in terms of engineering, and Mr. Talcott is providing lessons to prepare them for the build season.”
“In the club last year, everything was after school, which made it harder to have enough time. Build season is January through February, and those hours would be everyday after school from 3 p.m. to six or eight,” said junior Joyce Satzherr.
Robotics first became an official Carlmont club last year. Previously, it had been a joint team with Woodside, but last year Carlmont’s student enrollment in the club had grown enough for them to branch off and start their own official team.
Just one year after being an official club on campus, robotics has become an elective class.
To become a class, Carlmont administration has to approve the addition of a new elective.
“To get the class established we had lots of meetings with Mr. Talcott and Ms. Cho to plan for the class, as well as meeting with the guidance department and making sure enough people would sign up,” said Crame.
Robotics class takes place during sixth period, and counts as UC-certified elective credits.
One reason for the addition of the class is that the enrollment of students in robotics has grown from 22 active members to 50 since first becoming a club. Another factor was a lack of necessary hours.
Saltzherr said, “We found that we were running out of time and we wanted to have more training and get a more diverse range of skills.”
With the new setup, students who are in robotics can choose to either be in the class, in the after school club, or in both, such as Saltzherr.
“Now with a class we have a lot of new people who are in sports or have outside of school commitments,” said Saltzherr.
For students who were interested in robotics, but couldn’t fit the after school hours into their schedule, this class offers them a way to get involved.
Senior Kyle Jung said, “I joined robotics this year because I always wanted to join the team, but didn’t have time until it became a class.”
The team is planning on competing in up to two contests this year, and although they aren’t holding out for a win, the group plans on representing Carlmont positively, and having fun.
“I think we’re hoping to represent our school and ourselves very well [at the contest]. Our goal isn’t to win just yet, but I think we can definitely show that we know what we’re doing and that we do good things as a team,” said Talcott.