Laptop at the ready, Grade 3 student Boyd Bielert watches with eager anticipation as his spheroid lunar rover trundles toward a communications tower.
“Nooo! That was so close!” he cries, as the robot makes a wrong turn just inches from the goal.
Several minutes of coding and trial-and-error later, and the robot parks right in front of the tower.
“Yes!” Bielert says.
Bielert was one of about 220 grades 1-12 students at Sturgeon Composite May 23 for the 2024 STEAM Games. Last held in 2019, the Games challenge Sturgeon Public students to apply science, technology, engineering, art, and math to solve real-world problems.
Evaluating the students was a panel of distinguished judges which included Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw.
STEAM in space
“Our theme this year is outer space,” said STEAM Games organizer Kourtney Kerr, with all challenges linked to space or lunar exploration.
One event saw students use scraps to build a model lunar lander that could survive a drop onto rocky, sandy terrain without spilling its cargo (a pot of slime), for example. Another saw teams craft works of art that could communicate the nature of Earth to aliens, while a third had them program a space-related animation.
Bielert’s challenge involved programming a robot to navigate between several points on a simulated lunar surface. Teams in higher grades had to build robots out of Lego and have them complete certain tasks (such as moving rocks or sending signals) along the way.
Grade 9 Four Winds Public student Ethan Keller said his team had to do 30 runs with their bulldozer-like robot (which was equipped with flashing lights, automatic flag-waver, and a good-luck chicken) before it could complete its lunar mission. The team also had to thoroughly redesign the prototype they made to prepare for the Games after learning it was too big for the event.
Keller said it was very exciting to see their robot finally pull off a perfect run.
“It’s really great to see our hard work over the last few weeks pay off.”
Going high tech
The numerous laptops and robots at this year’s STEAM Games were a marked change from the first one held in 2017, which was a much lower-tech affair replete with Popsicle sticks, tape, and catapults.
Sturgeon Public deputy superintendent Jonathan Konrad said the Games have become higher-tech over the years as schools have gained more experience with STEAM principles. Most of this year’s art projects involved 3D-printing, for example, while the advent of cheap Chromebooks has let organizers host more challenges based on coding and robotics.
Kerr said challenges in the STEAM Games help students build the problem-solving and critical thinking skills needed in today’s world, and could help some find a passion for science or engineering.
Student volunteer Jayla Jewell said the Games were a place to explore your interests and meet others of a similar mindset. Her time at the 2019 Games helped her develop her creativity.
“I’m always thinking about what something could be, or what I could create to become something.”
Students won prizes and medals for participating in the Games. Namao School took home the commemorative banner as the overall winner.
Questions on the STEAM Games should go to Kerr at [email protected].
