Decmber 10, 2006

For twelve weeks eighteen St. Michael’s student have huddled around lap tops and Lego’s while brainstorming, storyboarding and developing consensus all necessary to compete in last weekend’s First Lego League competition hosted by the St. Joseph’s High School Robotic Team in Metuchen.

First Lego League (FLL) is an after school robotic program that challenges students to think like scientist and engineers. Alongside coaches Ralph Oro, Diane Wurzburger and Joe Duffy, students solve problems using engineering concepts, presentation techniques and robots.

“I’m very pleased. It’s the kids Go-For-It winning attitudes” remarked Coach Ralph Oro referring to the St. Michael’s Second Place Teamwork Award.

Over three months, 18 fourth through sixth grade students, three coaches and several parent aides’ have met twice a week. “Our team consists of 6 fourth grade girls”, added Dawn Nicholas, mother of team member Julia. For girls this program is particularly important because it amplifies science and technology at a critical time in their development.

In the robotic portion of the competition Ryan McGann and Annmarie LaBrutto piloted the team’s robot in three matches garnering 191 points. Each match is two-and-a-half minute and requires the robot to complete a several missions.

Diane Wurzburger, FLL Coach and mother of team member Christian is grateful for this program that expands learning opportunities and makes subjects like science more approachable. “It’s not always easy to get kids excited about math and science. It’s sometimes hard to make homework fun.” said Wurzburger.

Clearly these students are having fun. Every week St. Michael’s FLL meetings start with a “big idea”. This week Coach Joe Duffy discussed the new Black & Decker cordless drill powered by a nanotechnology battery. This battery, just released by M.I.T provides more power and carries a charge 10 times longer. Nanotechnology isn’t in the future, it’s now, said Duffy

Coach Duffy has led the St. Michael’s students in the research project portion of the challenge. “It’s the kids that come up with the best ideas’, said Duffy.

St. Michael’s FLL teams’ members have been researching ways to incorporate nanotechnology to improve everyday items. The team recommended developing a Smart Fabric to monitor vital signs. Using a cotton fiber clad in nanotechnology students identified potential uses this fabric could have including the ability to measure vital signs - blood pressure, temperature, pulse, brain waves, breathing and glucose levels. One student recommended the fabric include an indicator that could measure an automobile driver’s level of drowsiness and could shake them if the indicator reported that they were falling asleep.

The 10 minute student research presentation included a 5 minute presentation and 5 minutes for questions from the judges. Students began their presentation with judges being asked to step into a space elevator where they were whisked off into space while watching a reverse zoom of Earth with the aid of Google Earth. At the space station, nanotechnologists in lab coats present an infomercial style Smart Fabric sales pitch.