UPDATE:  High School Students Attend Robotics Camp at UAB

By Linda White
Reporter
Published: July 17, 2008

As a robot squeals the theme to the 1970’s movie “Born Free”, it means the robot has hit pay dirt, finding the magic dot on the floor.
More than a dozen high school students are getting up close and hands on computer science knowledge at Robotics Camp at UAB.
It’s sponsored by the Computer and Information Sciences Department.  Here high school students are learning java, a computer programming language to move these robots, that they built themselves.  One of the challenges, sumo wrestling with their robots.  This is just a small part of what makes robotics camp at UAB educational and fun.“

Austin McSpadden/Gardendale High School Junior said, “This is really exciting to me.  It’s opened many doors that i may have realized, if I hadn’t come to this camp.  And having fun while learning, makes it even better.“

Last week - students learned the programming - this week they’re putting it to the test.  With only six high schools in the state teaching computer science compared to hundreds in Texas, many students are learning how computer scientists work.

KeHon Benson/Shades Valley High School sophomore said, “This computer programming stuff, I didn’t know anything about.  And once you learn, it’s actually quite simple.“

Jeff Gray, PhD/UAB Associate Professor said, “Overall we want them to be developers of technology just not users of technology.  You don’t make it and advance if you’re just a user.  We want them to know how things work under the hood.“

Robotics camp attracts students from all over the world.  It’s become so popular, the Computer and Information Sciences department had to close registration.