The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) will arrive at Caboolture this Saturday, November 26, with QUT hosting a record 40 teams from 24 schools across the Moreton Bay region and beyond.
The brick building robotics event will kick off at 9am with robot design and team judging sessions, with the main LEGO robot contest running from 12.45pm to around 3pm at QUT Caboolture in Tallon Street.
Robotics@QUT project leader Dr Christina Chalmers from the Faculty of Education said FLL was an annual global competition that involved 88 countries.
"The theme changes each year and this year's them is 'Animal Allies'," she said.
"The students, who are aged 9 to 16, have to design, build and program a LEGO robot to complete a series of challenges against the clock. They only have 2 minutes and 30 seconds to do as many tasks as they can, so it's very exciting - and nerve-wracking! - for us and the kids."
The 24 schools involved in the Caboolture FIRST LEGO League competition are Scarborough SS, Hercules Road SS, Wamuran SS, St Columban’s College, Narangba SS, Elimbah SS, Jinibara SS, Humpybong SS, Beachmere SS, Tullawong SS, Minimbah SS, Lawnton SS, Bounty Boulevard SS, Bribie Island SS, Strathpine West SS, Woodford SS, Buddina SS, North Lakes SC, Mount Kilcoy, Aspley SHS, Redcliffe SHS, Surat SS, Injune SS, and Bribie Island SHS.
"Children today are not only going to be consumers of robotics technology but builders, producers, and programmers," Dr Chalmers said.
"It's important to introduce robotics and coding in age-appropriate ways. By starting young with simple ideas we can help children develop their understanding of coding and robotics and help them develop computational thinking and problem-solving skills. Coding with robots teaches children to think logically because the robot won't do anything you don't tell it to do."
EVENT: Caboolture FIRST LEGO League
DATE: Saturday, November 26, 2016
VENUE: QUT Caboolture campus, Tallon Street, Caboolture
BEST TIME FOR MEDIA: 12.45pm to 2.45pm
Media contacts:
- Mechelle McMahon, QUT media officer, media@qut.edu.au
- (After hours) Rose Trapnell, QUT media team leader, 0407 585 901
