ROBOTICS

In January of 2007, the Third Street Community Center launched the Robotics Program. This innovative enrichment program provides opportunities for students to explore engineering concepts, learn the dynamics of competitive team projects, develop leadership skills, and prepares students to compete in the Tech Museum of Innovation’s annual Tech Challenge competition.

Mentoring is essential to our program.  Our Tech Challenge Mentors are dedicated and skilled volunteers employed in high tech companies or are engineering students from San Jose State University or Stanford University. Tech Challenge Mentors play a crucial role in teaching youth skills such as how to determine roles and assign tasks, decision making processes, rules of engagement, brainstorming and prototyping, deadlines for deliverables, time management, testing and learning from failure, and product presentation.

Our project based learning curriculum is guided by the Tech Museum of Innovation with support from the Society of Mexican American Engineers & Scientists, and the Society of Latino Engineers & Scientists.

This program operates on Saturdays from January to May.

Past Tech Challenge Competitions

2008 – Water Works
Students built devices that deliver safe drinking water upstream to a village using only the power created by the flow of the river itself.

2007– Mars Crater Mission
Students built “rovers” that could withstand a 30 foot drop and scale up the side of a “crater.”

Eligibility

The Robotics Program is open to middle school students in grades 6 – 8. Students are expected to maintain a 95% attendance rate for the duration of the program.

Priority is given to returning students with good participation rates, new students who have a sibling or parent currently or previously enrolled in one of our programs, English Language Learners, and students who live in the City of San Jose. Second priority is given to students who live in Santa Clara County.

How to Enroll in the Robotics Program

A parent or legal guardian must complete an enrollment application. Parents are required to attend an orientation meeting before a student can be accepted into our program. A $25 enrollment fee is applicable. Limited scholarships for low-income students are available.

Applications are available in January and may be picked up in person at the Third Street Community Center located at 160 N. 3rd Street. To receive a copy by mail, please call (408) 295-8722.

Please note that we may not be able to enroll all students due to classroom capacity.