Education Initiatives

K-12 STEM Initiatives

FIRST

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and NI collaborate to inspire students to build their science, engineering, and technology skills. Below are descriptions of the numerous FIRST programs in which NI participates.

FIRST Robotics Competition

The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is a unique varsity sport of the mind designed to help high school students discover how interesting and rewarding the life of an engineer or researcher can be. It challenges teams of young people and their mentors to solve a common problem in six-weeks using a standard kit of parts and a shared set of rules. Teams build robots from the parts, program them with NI LabVIEW software, and enter them in regional and statewide competitions.

Additionally, the FIRST Robotics Community provides an online forum for discussing all things related to FIRST, robotics, and the many ways in which National Instruments contributes to the FRC.

FIRST Tech Challenge

The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a mid-level robotics competition for high school students. It offers the traditional challenge of the FRC but with a smaller and more affordable robotics kit. The FTC robot can also be programmed with LabVIEW or NXT-G software.

The ultimate goal of FTC is to reach more young people through an accessible opportunity to discover the excitement and rewards of science, technology, engineering, and math.

FIRST LEGO® League

FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is a global program created to get children excited about science and technology. Geared for students aged 9-14 (up to 16 outside of the United States and Canada), FLL uses theme-based challenges to engage students in research, problem solving, and engineering. The cornerstones of the program emphasize contributions of others, friendly sportsmanship, learning, and community involvement.

The program uses the LEGO MINDSTORMS® NXT robotics system, which is powered by LabVIEW. At the end of each school semester, teams of students gather and put their robots to the test in FLL tournaments. NI contributes to FLL in variety of ways, including supplying LabVIEW technology, providing volunteers at events, and contributing in other collaborative efforts.

Junior FIRST LEGO League

The Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr. FLL) is an exciting opportunity for budding scientists who are six to nine years old. It encompasses the core concepts of all FIRST programs to inspire, excite, and introduce children to the wonders of science, technology, and engineering. The Jr. FLL goal is to provide an experience that captures children’s inherent curiosity and creativity and direct it toward discovering the possibilities of improving the world through understanding, planning, and technology.

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT In-Classroom Mentoring

LEGO MINDSTORMS is a leading hands-on robotics learning system that educators worldwide use to introduce STEM concepts in a fun and innovative way.

The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT mentor program matches technically trained engineering mentors with second- through eighth-grade teachers who seek to enhance their STEM curriculum. All teachers in the program receive training from Design Technology and Engineering for America’s Children (DTEACh), a program established by the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin that provides a teaching model for classrooms from kindergarten through graduate school. Teachers follow the DTEACh curriculum to direct the students’ work while mentors provide the guidance students need to build and program within the NXT environment.

Project Lead the Way

National Instruments believes that project-based learning is key to addressing disconnects between classroom theory and real-world practice, and Project Lead the Way, Inc. (PLTW) is a leader in expanding the adoption of STEM-related, project-based learning.

NI serves as an advocate and technology provider for PLTW, a national program that forms partnerships among public schools, higher education institutions, and the private sector to increase the quantity and quality of graduating engineers and engineering technologists.

In addition to providing LabVIEW for the core of all PLTW programs, NI collaborates closely with PLTW to provide communities with thought leadership to enhance existing educational initiatives.

The Infinity Project

NI is a dedicated corporate provider for the Infinity Project, which is a national middle school, high school, and early college engineering curricula. This math- and science-based engineering and technology education initiative helps educators deliver a maximum of engineering exposure with a minimum of training, expense, and time.

NI provides a variety of services to the Infinity Project, including advocacy efforts, knowledge sharing, and the supply of leading-edge technology for improving STEM education.

University Initiatives

ASEE

National Instruments is a premier corporate partner of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Founded in 1893, the ASEE is a nonprofit organization of individuals and institutions committed to furthering education in engineering and engineering technology. The 12,000+ members of ASEE include government representatives, industry professionals from all disciplines of engineering, and university students, faculty members, department heads, and deans.

EcoCAR Challenge

NI is a platinum sponsor for EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge, which is a three-year collegiate advanced vehicle technology engineering competition established by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM).The competition challenges 17 North American universities to reduce a vehicle’s environmental impact by minimizing its fuel consumption and reducing its emissions while retaining performance, safety, and consumer appeal. Students use a real-world engineering process to design and integrate their advanced technology solutions into a 2009 Saturn VUE vehicle.

In 2009, as a platinum sponsor, NI has donated engineering hardware and software – including LabVIEW, NI CompactRIO in-vehicle embedded control systems, and PXI modular simulation systems – to student teams. With these tools, teams design, prototype, and deploy their vehicles and tackle the unique algorithm engineering challenges associated with developing advanced hybrid vehicles.

EPICS

National Instruments is a national sponsor for Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS), providing support for furthering the experience of engineering students. EPICS was founded at Purdue University in 1995. Program creators combined university student work with the needs of local community service organizations in a way that could benefit all involved. Teams that comprise multiyear, multidisciplinary students enter their communities and solve engineering and technology-based problems for various organizations.

LabVIEW Academy

The LabVIEW Academy program provides classroom curriculum and hands-on exercises to community colleges, two-year colleges, and four-year universities, giving students the opportunity to validate their knowledge and skills at a professional level with certification. After completing the program, students have the knowledge and tools to confidently attempt the Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer (CLAD) certification exam. The program’s goal is to improve students’ career opportunities around the world by providing experience and certification in LabVIEW.

Tufts CEEO

The Tufts University Center for Engineering Education & Outreach (CEEO) is a leader in supporting efforts to integrate engineering into K-12 education. NI collaborates with the CEEO on educational outreach and training programs. Tufts provides training to all NI volunteers who serve as mentors in various academic initiatives, and NI provides LabVIEW and other technologies for CEEO programs.