Central Texas K-12 STEM Outreach - Building Future EngineersNational Instruments encourages employees to give time, give resources, and get connected to the community they call home. The University of Texas at Austin DTEACh ProgramToday, educators strive to make STEM education fun and exciting through the use of technology and hands-on learning. NI makes this easy for K-12 local educators through its support of the University of Texas College of Engineering DTEACh (Design Technology and Engineering for America's Children) program. Each summer, NI offers scholarships to Central Texas K-12 educators to participate in the DTEACh program, offering LEGO MINDSTORMS and RoboLab training workshops at the University of Texas at Austin College of Engineering, where they learn how to integrate this innovative, hands-on learning tool into their classrooms. Since 1998, the DTEACh program has trained hundreds of local educators, who have teamed up with NI employee mentors to help thousands of Central Texas students learn about science and technology in a fun and engaging way. Students program the LEGO MINDSTORMS robotics invention system using RoboLab graphical programming software, which is based on National Instruments LabVIEW. In building and programming their robotic designs, students using RoboLab software perform many of the same development tasks as professional engineers and scientists. "The United States faces a critical shortage of students in engineering programs. However, with innovative, hands-on tools such as LEGO MINDSTORMS in K-12 classrooms, more students are equipped to meet success with important STEM concepts early on while experiencing the fun and excitement in engineering," said Dr. Richard Crawford, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. "Through the LEGO MINDSTORMS mentorship program and DTEACh, thousands of Central Texas students use creativity and teamwork skills to build solutions to real-world problems." If you are an educator in Central Texas interested in learning more or participating in the DTEACh summer training program, visit www.engr.utexas.edu/dteach. Classroom Mentorship
In 2004, NI partnered with LEGO to create the next generation of LEGO MINDSTORMS software. The new LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT software, NXT-G, is developed completely in National Instruments LabVIEW, so kids can learn graphical programming elements while playing with their LEGO robotics creations. LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT also features a new intelligent brick with a 32-bit microprocessor and Bluetooth capabilities. Learn more about NXT. Engineering is cool, and National Instruments wants kids in Central Texas to know it! Today, more than 15,000 students in Central Texas classrooms are learning programming basics with ROBOLAB and NXT graphical programming software, based on NI LabVIEW. We do this by matching Central Texas educators who participate in the DTEACh program with a National Instruments engineer who mentors in their classrooms weekly throughout the school year. Annually, NI classroom mentors spend more than 4,000 hours in the classroom. National Instruments classroom mentors support local educators in instructing fundamental engineering concepts through construction and programming with the LEGO MINDSTORMS robotics system, powered by LabVIEW. This is what some NI classroom mentors had to say about their experiences: "My teacher and all the students presented me with a 'mechanical worm.' It is made of coil springs and walks on its eight legs when wound. I felt that the kids really cared for me and wanted me to keep coming to the school and helping with their projects. Seeing them learn new science and engineering concepts every week is the most rewarding experience." "I have been able to bring the engineering spark to students who might not otherwise pursue an engineering education. It feels good to know I've been a positive influence in their lives and in their education." "My most rewarding moment was seeing a team of kids jump for joy when their robot successfully completed a challenge." Student EventsFIRST LEGO League (FLL)
In 2005, NI hosted the first Central Texas FLL competition. To learn more or to get involved in Central Texas FLL, visit the FLL web site. FIRST Robotics CompetitionIn addition, NI is an official sponsor of the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). To learn more about FRC, visit the FRC web site. LEGO MINDSTORMS Mania!At the end of each school year, NI and the University of Texas College of Engineering host LEGO MINDSTORMS Mania! - an event where local educators and students showcase their original LEGO MINDSTORMS robots and celebrate their achievements. The event brings together more than 1,000 attendees, including students of all grade levels from Austin-area classrooms, educators, NI classroom mentors, family, and friends. Click here to check out LEGO MINDSTORMS Mania! 2005. |
In 1998, NI teamed up with LEGO and Tufts University to develop ROBOLAB, the programming software used in the LEGO MINDSTORMS® for Schools product. Energized by this cooperative effort, NI saw an opportunity to help local classrooms by training teachers to use ROBOLAB and matching them with NI technical mentors for the school year.
National Instruments is an international sponsor of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO League (FLL), an international program for more than 100,000 children ages nine to 14 that combines a hands-on, interactive robotics program with a sports-like atmosphere. To learn more about FLL, to see the competition schedule, or to get involved, visit the