2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Integrating Engineering Design and Robotics in Pre-College Education: A Hands-On Approach with Lego Robotics (Resource Exchange)

Presented at PCEE Instructional Showcases

The Adventures in Robotics (AIR) program at Pittsburg State University features hands-on lessons introducing pre-college students to STEM using Lego Spike Prime kits. Targeted at grades 6-12, this sample lesson allows students to build and program robots to solve real-world challenges. It fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills while reinforcing concepts in mechanical design, coding, and sensor integration. Adaptable and easy to implement, this 90-minute lesson includes clearly defined learning goals and assessment strategies, providing educators with an engaging way to integrate engineering principles into their curriculum and enhance student interest in STEM education.

Authors

Prof. Norman H Philipp P.E., Ed.S. Pittsburg State University [biography]

Norman Philipp is a licensed engineer and a tenured faculty member at Pittsburg State University in the College of Technology with over 12 years of experience in higher education, specializing in pre-college STEM outreach and innovative engineering education. As the co-coordinator of the Adventures in Robotics program, Prof. Philipp focuses on hands-on, project-based learning that engages middle and high school students in engineering concepts through the use of robotics. Their work is designed to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration among young learners, with the goal of inspiring the next generation of engineers and STEM professionals. Prof. Philipp holds degrees from the University of Kansas, the University of Nebraska, and Pittsburg State University.
Prof. Randy Winzer Pittsburg State University [biography]

Randy Winzer is a Professor in the Engineering Technology department at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS; he served as the EET program coordinator from 2002 until 2007. He holds both BS and MS degrees in Engineering Technology and has several years of experience supporting various information technology infrastructure projects; primarily those in support of educational content delivery and K-12 education. The past twenty-one summers Professor Winzer has conducted a STEM outreach effort titled ‘Adventures in Robotics’ which has had over 1,000 local K-12 participants.

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