Next General Meeting: By Bill Saturno Growth and learning of the human spirit will always endure. In a world of continuous budget cuts that close shop classes and diminish hands-on learning in our schools, new opportunities will rise elsewhere. One such opportunity is “Robotics and Beyond”, a not-for-profit science and engineering education organization in New Milford. They will be sharing their community success story with us and giving us some insight into their organization. Co-founders Michael Morrissey and Paul Chayka will introduce us to the group that they founded almost ten years ago, and discuss the programs that are in place today. The organization's founders have realized that too often, hands-on learning opportunities are not available in our schools (or at home), due to a variety of obstacles and limited resources. Robotics and Beyond’s mission is to introduce, capture, and retain the interest of students whose focus is in the study of the sciences. (This includes “STEM”, a support program to assist students who have an interest to pursue disciplines associated with Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics.) At the August Meeting, Robotics and Beyond will present an overview of the different programs they have created and share what they have seen provide effective results. A textbook always provides a solid foundation, but they will discuss their program of complimentary, practical, hands-on, learning with real-world projects. In today’s world of ever changing technology and limited resources, there is a great challenge to create an effective program in any field. The field of robotics is no different, and in many respects, presents an even greater challenge to success than other disciplines. Michael and Paul will discuss what is needed for effective curriculum and training development, and what to look for in relevant hardware / software selections when building a training course in the field of robotics. In addition, Michael and Paul will bring some of their robots and software projects along for exhibition during the presentation. They will showcase the different levels of technology that have been achieved by students who have participated in the program. This spectrum will include a variety from a simple, more basic, LEGO-designed system, through a more advanced microcontroller board level robot, built by students of a more advanced level. After the demonstrations, Michael and Paul are excited to discuss some of their upcoming offerings and programs, especially those which may be of interest to DACS members. At the end of the presentation, you will have an opportunity to ask any final questions about the Robotics and Beyond program. As always, the DACS General Meeting is open to anyone, so be sure to invite your friends and colleagues to this event - especially your acquaintances in the educational field who may have an interest in this fascinating and ever changing field of study..
--- DACS meetings are usually held at the Danbury Hospital auditorium. (Click here for directions and parking information.) Activities begin at 6:30 p.m. with registration and casual networking. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. with a question and answer period (Ask DACS), followed by announcements and a short break. The featured evening presentation begins at 8:00. The meeting is scheduled to adjourn at 9:30 p.m. DACS General Meetings are free and open to the public. Members and prior attendees are encouraged to extend invitations to anyone interested in this topic. Danbury Area Computer Society (DACS) is a registered nonprofit and has been serving the region since 1990.
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