Christmas came early for Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent school boards with a special gift delivery Thursday by St. Clair College's Research and Innovation team.
Following the successful completion of the OVIN 2.0 Robotics Summer Camp project, the Research and Innovation team is distributing the remaining program resources, including 122 LEGO SPIKE Prime robots, 22 Apple iPads, and four charging stations to four school boards in the region.
The distribution of resources began on Wednesday, Dec. 11, when the team visited Tilbury District High School, part of the Lambton Kent District School Board, to donate equipment directly to their ACCESS program. The team also visited Ursuline College High School in Chatham, part of the St. Clair Catholic District School Board.
Both schools expressed their sincere gratitude for the donation and are excited to incorporate the added resources into their science and math curricula.
"This generous donation will assist in improving our connection to our ACCESS students, providing them with a worthwhile STEM experience," said Shea VanderGriendt, the principal at Tilbury District High School. "We are certain this will make a profound impact on our ACCESS students, and we look forward to seeing what they will learn with these."
On Dec. 19, The team dropped off an equal number of resources to representatives at the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board and the Greater Essex County District School Board.
"One of our priorities as a Catholic school board is to provide outstanding learning experiences for our students and an essential part of that is having access to the latest and best technology," said Melissa Farrand, Executive Superintendent for WECDSB. "So, we're certainly very grateful to our partners at St. Clair College for making this donation, which will prove very beneficial for our students."
Grade 8 Assumption College Catholic Middle School student Vicky Gao is a member of the robotics team and has used the LEGO Spike kits during competition.
"It was really good using them – it gives you a chance to create new stuff and code new stuff," Gao said. "Robotics is really fun, and we can't wait to use these kits in our classroom."
The goal of these donations is to enhance access to robotics education and to support STEM learning initiatives. Clear guidelines and support strategies are in place to ensure these resources are used effectively for STEM education, with accompanying curriculum documents provided by St. Clair College.
"It's truly inspiring to see the excitement on students' faces as they engage with the LEGO SPIKE Prime robots, unlocking their creativity while exploring STEM and automobility concepts," said David Potocek, a Research Project Manager at St. Clair College Research and Innovation.
"Through this initiative, St. Clair College's R&I team is proud to honour our partnerships with local school boards and ensure these resources are put to meaningful use, empowering students in our community to innovate, learn, and thrive in the evolving world of STEM, technology, and automobility."
In addition to the donation of resources, St. Clair College is also providing an in-house developed STEM robotics curriculum to accompany the LEGO SPIKE Prime robots and Apple iPads. This curriculum will offer educators and students access to structured learning opportunities using physical manuals as well as online opportunities, ensuring that the tools are paired with the knowledge needed to maximize their potential.
"Through our online platform and STEM initiatives at St. Clair, we are opening doors for underserved youth. By mobilizing resources and expertise, we aim to deepen their connection to knowledge," said Dr. Karamjeet Dhillon, Director of Research and Innovation at St. Clair College. "Every child – regardless of background – deserves to feel valued and empowered."
By combining resources with educational support, the College is developing a comprehensive approach to advancing STEM and robotics education in the region.
"With the generous support of OVIN funding, this initiative marks the first step in creating an environment where youth can thrive. Armed with the right tools, they will be ready to create, lead, and succeed in an interconnected, hybrid world," Dr. Dhillon said.
