Challenges with remote learning? The first is engagement!!! Student Robotics in the Age of COVID

From EdSurge
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2021-01-26-how-leveraging-curiosity-may-keep-students-engaged-from-afar

"How Leveraging Curiosity May Keep Students Engaged From Afar"

Faith Bongiorno began her teaching career as an “art-on-the-cart” educator. But that changed one day when her son told her he wanted to participate in FIRSTⓇ LEGOⓇ League, a robotics program created through an alliance between FIRSTⓇ (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and LEGOⓇ Education. Curiosity piqued, she presented the program to her principal, worked to secure funding and stepped up to coach the after-school program.

Being one educator that engages 30 kids online effectively is a challenge.

This newfound passion led Bongiorno to transition to teaching general technology in the classroom and, eventually, robotics. Now, she’s a full-time education implementation specialist for FIRST and still works closely with a number of robotics teams in her area, including some high school seniors who were on her original team nine years ago. And, just like other educators, she’s been working hard to keep kids in the program engaged and safe from afar.

Bongiorno spoke with us about her experience with FIRST, STEM education and navigating remote instruction—as both an educator and parent—during the COVID-19 pandemic.

EdSurge: What challenges are you seeing with remote learning?

Bongiorno: The first is engagement. Being one educator that engages 30 kids online effectively is a challenge. For the students, it’s a challenge to feel comfortable and, as Brené Brown says, to be vulnerable and brave to step out into that arena...."

Read the rest of this article at its source: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2021-01-26-how-leveraging-curiosity-may-keep-students-engaged-from-afar