Empowering Young Minds: Exploring the World of Robotics and Coding for Kids with Wendy Hill

07/01/23 • 33 min

Ever wondered how robotics and coding can be accessible and fun for kids of all ages? Join me as I chat with Wendy Hill, co-host of Linux Out Loud, about her experience with FIRST LEGO League, a robotics program for kids ages 4-16. Wendy has been involved with FIRST for two seasons and gives us insights into how each level of the program focuses on teamwork and how different countries around the world come together each year for a championship event.
Wendy takes us through her journey teaching Python, the competitive schedule that comes with being part of the robotics teams, and the regional, state, and world competitions. We also explore the fascinating inner workings of the kids' robots, which are made with Technic LEGO and what looks like rubber bands, and how crucial accurate programming is for these robots to run autonomously. Wendy also explains the innovation projects associated with the robotics program and shares an amazing story of how the her team's kids' idea will save their community $72,000 a day! This episode is filled with inspiring stories and insights into the world of robotics for kids.
Lastly, we delve into the details of Wendy's team's journey from regionals to Worlds, a global competition in Texas with over 35,000 people. Discover the different levels of robotics competitions and awards, including the encore game that involves working with an alliance partner. Wendy also shares her thoughts on the cancellation of regionals and why she believes it's an essential learning experience for the kids. So, sit back and enjoy this enlightening episode on the exciting world of robotics and the impact it has on young minds! Trust us; you don't want to miss it!
Links mentioned in the show:

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Previous Episode

Pi in the Fire Service with Jesse Brennan

Listen as Jesse Brennan talks about how Raspberry Pi 3's are making a significant impact in his fire department and others across the country. Also, did you now that more than 85% of all fire fighters in the US are volunteers, and that the percentage is significantly higher outside of large cities? Jesse talks about this and how technology is allowing departments to better respond to needs while still being staffed primarily by these volunteers.
Links:

I Am Responding Kiosk
You can reach Jesse via email at [email protected]

Next Episode

Exploring Nextcloud and Open Source Technology with James Sundquist

Ever wondered how open source technology is revolutionizing the way we store and share data? Well, you are in for a treat! In my latest conversation with James Sundquist, a landscaper with a techie heart, we get down to the nuts and bolts of Nextcloud, an open source file sharing platform that is shaking up the data storage game. James gives us a peek into the Nextcloud Pi project, a genius solution for self-hosting Nextcloud on devices like a Raspberry Pi and the exciting challenges of generating and maintaining documentation with Discourse.
Our conversation takes an exciting turn as we explore the continuous evolution of Nextcloud Pi, moving beyond just documentation. Its integration with Matrix and Telegram is breaking down barriers making collaboration a breeze. We also get into the adrenaline rush of the Nextcloud Conference and how Nextcloud Pi is a crucial tool for Nextcloud employees. Then, we move on to James's personal journey with open source projects, where he masterfully crafts tools for his theatrical projects. Our episode concludes with a heartfelt shoutout to Kyrin from the Mirror Mortals podcast for their unwavering support. Get ready to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of open source technology!
Links:

Docs for Nextcloud: docs.nextcloudpi.com
Nextcloud Pi: github.com/nextcloud/nextcloudpi
Roadmap of Nextcloud Pi development - github.com/orgs/nextcloud/projects/67
Noisebridge hacker space: noisebridge.net
Meta site for Discourse: meta.discourse.org
Q Light Controller+: qlcplus.org
Jame's personal website for shows and events: james.network
Jupiter Broadcasting: jupiterbroadcasting.com
Inkscape: inkscape.org
DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve
Kdenlive: https://kdenlive.org
Debian: debian.org
Let's Encrypt: letsencrypt.org

Correction:
I just wanted to note that Nextcloud was forked from ownCloud, not Open Cloud.

Volunteer Technologist - Empowering Young Minds: Exploring the World of Robotics and Coding for Kids with Wendy Hill

Transcript

Gene00:00:05.591

Hello everyone and welcome to the Volunteer Technologist podcast . Here we take a look at the different ways that people who are technically inclined volunteer outside of their primary job . Today I'm joined by Wendy Hill . How are you doing today , Wendy ?

Wendy00:00:19.582

I'm doing pretty good . How are you ?

Gene00:00:21.841

Doing grea