What’s round, rolls and helps middle school students think like engineers? It’s Sphero, part of the curriculum at the 2015 Junior University at Fresno Pacific University—thanks to the Rotary Club of Fresno.
Junior University is a weeklong, hands-on math, science and technology enrichment summer day camp for youth from Fresno and surrounding communities hosted by the FPU Office of Continuing Education and AIMS Center for Math and Science. The Rotary Club of Fresno awarded $8,000 to support the camp, including $4,000 for robotic kits, computer tablets and other technology.
“With this grant we can go above and beyond in providing hands-on experiences for the kids,” said Junior University Director Paula Gehrett. (Another $2,000 is for supplies and the remaining $2,000 for T-shirts.)
Sphero is 4.2 pounds of fun as students use iPads to program it to roll in various directions. “Students have to program Sphero to turn certain ways on an obstacle course,” Gehrett said.
But Sphero is more than a good time. With the SPRK education program of guided lessons students use visual and text-based programming to explore principles of math and science, including polygons, percentages, variables, time, speed and distance.
The iPads will also be used in video production and editing activities to understand storyboarding, focus, balance, timelines and other techniques. “Students have to learn how to place the camera, how to place the sequence of telling a story,” said instructor Elsa Asrat, a 2015 FPU graduate.
Other Junior University programs will focus on physical science, chemistry and other disciplines. All will have real-life applications, such as “Water, Precious Water,” which will deal with the drought, erosion and conservation. In addition, counselors such as Gabriel Rodriguez, an FPU junior, will work with 12-15 campers each, “to make sure they’re on track in the classroom, and having fun outside of class,” he said.
Registration is still open for the camps, which meet from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. July 27-31 and August 3-7 on the main FPU campus, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno (the corner of Chestnut and Butler avenues). Call Paula Gehrett at 559-304-9266 or check the website at fresno.edu/visitors/summer-camps/junior-university