S T E M
I N
P R A C T I C E
A FIRST LEGO LEAGUE JOURNEY AISHA KRISTIANSEN
Watching students heavily engaged in solving
opportunity like no other. During the season, this
real world problems and building/coding robots
group of talented students explored the problem of
is the hallmark of the FIRST
League
the Northern Pacific Sea Star, which was an
thinking,
introduced marine species carried into our local
creativity and collaboration at its heart, students
waters by international cargo ships. The sea stars
embark on an extraordinary journey to identify
were overrunning the Bellarine Peninsula near
solutions using the integrated pillars of STEM
Geelong (Victoria, Australia) and wreaking havoc on
Education. To be successful requires connecting
the fragile ecosystem. ‘Cre8te the Future’ went on to
with experts, working with skilled mentors, and
work
undergoing extensive research, which culminates
underwater robot that would humanely reduce sea
in the creation of a prototype. Running alongside
star numbers by euthanasia, to restore ecological
the Innovation Project, the team of up to 10
balance in the region. From researching the Science
students
behind
Challenge
program.
also
With
builds
Ⓡ
LEGO
critical
and
Ⓡ
programs
an
with
Deakin
marine
University
diversity
to
right
design
through
an
to
autonomous EV3 robot that solves a series of
Engineering an underwater robot solution, the
season-specific missions. Ongoing iteration of
STEM connections were natural and intuitive.
the robot and attachments requires students to continually
to
brought about a rich investigation into turning the
complete the maximum number of missions
local Alcoa aluminium smelter into a wondrous
within
frame.
Supertree grove, like one located in Singapore. The
Underpinning both categories are the FIRST Core
students spoke with one of the architects of the
Values - the very essence of the program!
Singapore Supertrees based in the United Kingdom
the
design 2
½
engineer minutes
solutions,
The next season addressed ‘Hydrodynamics’ and
time
My connection with this innovative STEM
and worked closely with local water authorities to
program dates back to 2016, with a group of 8
design a state-of-the-art water hydration system.
students solving ‘Animal Allies’. From my earliest
This innovation project would see the team be
involvement with the program, I knew that
awarded a spot to represent Australia at the First
FIRST
Lego League Competition in Debrecen, Hungary in
Ⓡ LEGOⓇ League was a dynamic learning
STEM|ED MAGAZINE
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