What the Robotics Course Actually Covers
SHC’s robotics course is structured as a full-year collaborative and individual experience, not a short unit within a broader science class. Students work with multiple hardware platforms, including VEX-IQ kits, Arduino microcontrollers, and Raspberry Pi computers, learning to write code for robotic systems while building the underlying mechanical structures themselves. The course explicitly connects to basic physical science principles, so students aren’t just following build instructions; they’re applying physics and engineering concepts as they go.
Why Multiple Hardware Platforms?
Using VEX-IQ, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi within a single course, rather than standardizing on one platform, exposes students to different levels of complexity and different real-world engineering contexts, from simplified educational robotics kits to the kind of microcontroller and single-board computer platforms used in actual product development.
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The Design-Thinking Process Behind Each Project
Rather than assigning a fixed robot to build, SHC’s robotics course has students engage in the design-thinking process both individually and collaboratively: identifying a relevant problem, then designing and building a robot using CAD software as part of the solution. After working in teams, students provide structured feedback to one another, closing the loop between designing, building, and refining, much like an actual engineering team would.
| Stage | What Students Do |
| Problem Selection | Individually and collaboratively identify a relevant challenge to solve |
| Design | Use CAD software to design a robotic solution |
| Build & Code | Construct the robot and write its code using VEX-IQ, Arduino, or Raspberry Pi |
| Team Feedback | Present work to peers and give/receive structured feedback |
Where Robotics Happens on Campus
SHC’s robotics lab sits adjacent to the school’s athletic facilities, including the gymnasium, weight room, and fitness center near the Sister Teresa Piro, DC, Student Life Center. Housing robotics alongside athletic and fitness spaces reflects SHC’s broader campus layout, where academic, technical, and physical education facilities sit close together rather than being isolated in a single science wing.
A Course Taught by an Experienced Instructor
SHC’s robotics and physics instructor has spent nearly two decades teaching robotics, including developing a three-course robotics pathway (mechanical engineering, autonomous robotics, and competitive robotics) at a previous school, experience that shapes how the course structures its progression from basic builds to more complex challenges.
Plan Your Child’s SHC Robotics Path With Cardinal Education
SHC’s robotics program provides a rigorous, year-long immersion in hands-on engineering, challenging students to master the design-thinking process across diverse platforms like VEX-IQ, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi.
To help you determine if this technical path aligns with your student’s long-term academic and STEM goals, Cardinal Education experts offer personalized guidance. We can assist your family in navigating specific inquiries, such as assessing competitive robotics opportunities and understanding how this coursework fits into a comprehensive college admissions strategy.
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