Brindlee Mountain Middle School Celebrates Robotics Week

Brindlee Mountain Middle School recently shared photos from their National Robotics Week celebration. Thanks to Penny Waldrop for sharing their activities for the week!



BMMS students were able to tour the Robotics Technology Park Mobile Unit. Note the Northeast Alabama BEST shirts.



BMMS supporters, including principal Mike Little got a chance to drive the BMMS robot.



What is more fitting for National Robotics Week than to be kind to your robot. BMMS got their robot, LeNerd, a cookie.

MathWorks Changes for 2014

MathWorks recently announced changes in the changes in services provided to BEST teams for 2014. Mathworks provides a one year license to MATLAB and Simulink software at no charge to BEST teams. This allows teams to use the software throughout the year.

The new version will be available for download in late July. Nicole Carroll will provide teachers with a download link and instructions as soon as the software is released. One exciting feature for 2014 includes the ability to use the software on a Mac.

MathWorks is a national sponsor of BEST Robotics and provides both products and cash in support of BEST Robotics initiatives. 

Robotics Teacher Workshop

The Sand Mountain Robotic Initiative was on the Northeast Alabama Community College campus recently teaching a workshop for teachers who are using robots in their curriculum. Wayne Cummins, who leads the initiative, taught the workshop and was assisted by Pisgah High School student, Bryan Amezquita.

The Sand Mountain Robotic Initiative has placed robots in area schools in an effort to advance science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills. Their goal is to provide robots and associated training for area schools.

Pictured here: Chrystal Henderson (Geraldine); Brook Davidson (Geraldine); Hillary Williams (Stevenson Middle); Terry Williamson (Stevenson Middle); Bryan Amezquita (Pisgah High School); Brad Moore (Pisgah High School); Leigh Ann Kittrell (Stevenson Middle); Marianne Rogers (Bryant School); Shelly Grant (North Sand Mountain School); Shannon McClain (Bridgeport Middle School); Stewart Cisc (Dutton); Brett Smith (Henagar Junior High); Wayne Cummins (Sand Mountain Robotic Initiative)

Cyber Lunch & Learn at NACC

Northeast Alabama Community College will hold a Cyber Security Lunch and Learn on Thursday, April 17 from 12:00 noon until 1:00 pm in room 132 of the Workforce Development Building. Please share the notice below with anyone who is interested.

 

 

 

Register for 2014 BEST Robotics During National Robotics Week

So what would be a great thing to do to celebrate National Robotics Week?

You could wear your 2013 BEST Tshirt. You could demonstrate robots to kids in younger grades. You could even give candy and flowers to your favorite robot.

But perhaps the BEST thing you could do to celebrate National Robotics Week is to register for 2014 BEST Robotics. There is an orange button on every page of this site (top right column) where you simply click and register. Remember that only one person (the teacher or sponsor) should register per team. 

We are looking forward to seeing our team list grow as you register.

T Shirt Day

In honor of National Robotics Week 2014 we are asking everyone who participated in BEST Robotics in 2013 to wear their Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics Game Day shirt on Wednesday, April 9, 2104.

Be sure to let everyone in your school know that you are proud to be a part of BEST Robotics by wearing this shirt on April 9. Be sure to share your photos with us on Facebook.

Remember also that sponsors of Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics make it possible to provide these shirts to everyone free of charge. This gives us an opportunity to show that we are proudly wearing the shirts they gave us!

Teams are also encouraged to pick another day that week to wear their team's Tshirt. But please reserve April 9 for Northeast Alabama BEST Tshirts.

Northeast Region ACTE Fair is Friday

The Northeast Region Alabama Council for Technology in Education (ACTE) Fair will take place tomorrow at Northeast Alabama Community College. More than 300 students from 16 schools in 4 counties will compete in 7 categories across 5 grade levels.

Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics is part of this competition and will have an informational table to kick off National Robotics Week.

Rainsville Chamber of Commerce Sponsorship

We are pleased to announce that the Rainsville Chamber of Commerce has signed on as a sponsor of BEST Robotics for 2014. Rainsville Chamber, led by Tim Eberhart, has been a sponsor of Northeast Alabama BEST since its inception in 2012. We are pleased and grateful for the support of the Rainsville Chamber!

Welcome Heil Environmental as New Sponsor

We are excited and pleased to welcome Heil Environmental as a new sponsor of Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics. Heil is a top producer of refuse collection equipment. They have a manufacturing facility in Fort Payne and are headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee.