My Visit to Yale for Yale Pathways - Piloting the Funbotics FBX Education Robot
This past week, I had the privilege of visiting Yale to volunteer with Funbotics as we introduced the FBX education robot at the Yale Pathways program. As the president of the Funbotics DMV Chapter, I was thrilled to be part of this initiative and to work alongside the Yale team to make this pilot launch a success. The visit was a unique opportunity to not only help with the event but also observe and learn from the well-established Yale Funbotics chapter.
Getting Ready for the Big Day
The lead-up to the event was buzzing with energy. Our main goal was clear: demonstrate the FBX robot’s educational power and inspire young students to engage in STEM learning. The FBX is designed to be an approachable, interactive way for students to learn robotics basics, and we wanted to see it in action with a fresh audience. We soft launched this program with a small student group from CAF and we incorporated those learnings in our lesson plan. We shared the lessons learned with the Yale team.
The Yale team, who had organized similar workshops before, was both welcoming and incredibly knowledgeable. Observing their preparations gave me insight into what makes their approach so successful. From careful planning to coordinating volunteers, their organization made me think about ways to elevate our efforts at the DMV Chapter.
Event Day: Inspiring Young Minds
On event day, we had the chance to introduce the FBX robot to groups of students eager to learn. They got hands-on experience with the robot, guided by Yale and DMV volunteers. Seeing students light up when they successfully programmed or controlled the robot made every moment of preparation worth it. The Yale Funbotics volunteers were experts at connecting with students, making complex concepts feel accessible, and I was eager to absorb their techniques.
Learning and Growing Together
Throughout the event, I took mental notes on how the Yale chapter handled logistics, from equipment setup to group management. Their ability to manage a smooth flow of activities was something I admired. This experience left me feeling inspired to bring new ideas back to the DMV Chapter.
Looking Forward
This experience strengthened my passion for Funbotics’ mission of making STEM accessible. As I bring back new insights and ideas to our DMV chapter, I look forward to organizing events that continue to spark curiosity and build skills for the next generation of tech enthusiasts.
