‘Introduction to Robotics in the Classroom’ Added to Free Professional Learning Courses Offered by LSI and InSPIRE
Tallahassee, Fla. – The team leading educational and workforce development and STEM outreach on the FSU InSPIRE project at Florida State University’s Learning Systems Institute (LSI) has announced the addition of two summer workshops. ROBO 101: Introduction to Robotics in the Classroom will now be offered free to educators in Bay County (July 6-12) and Okaloosa County (July 13-17).
With the addition of two sessions of ROBO 101, there are now nine free summer professional development workshops being offered on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast between June 1 and July 17. This is the third summer FSU InSPIRE will be conducting free professional learning courses for K-12 teachers on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast. This is the second year these courses will be held in local school districts and partner state colleges.
ROBO 101 participants will collaborate with FSU faculty and industry partners to examine the integration of robotics, artificial intelligence and engineering design to enhance classroom instruction. Codesigned with industry partners, this course helps students across all grades and subjects gain essential robotics skills needed for future careers.
“We couldn’t be happier to announce ROBO 101 is back by popular demand,” said InSPIRE’s Director of Education and Workforce Talent Carrie Meyers. “It is exciting to be able to bring this course to educators in Gulf, Walton, Bay, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties and explore how integrating these advancements can transform the educational practice of K-12 teachers on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast.”
The course aims to build a strong foundation in robotics through engaging, hands-on, inquiry-based activities. Participants will integrate durable skills to strengthen students’ transferable employability, deepen understanding of fundamental robotics and pre-engineering concepts and integrate computational thinking and block-based coding into teaching across all subject areas. ROBO 101 will also offer the opportunity to collaborate with industry and education experts to ensure students are prepared for the evolving workforce. This course is open to all grades and all subject areas as the ideas and topics are transferable and will be state standards- aligned.
Last month, LSI’s InSPIRE team announced it would conduct seven workshops at five locations throughout the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast. Information about both AI 101: Engaging K-12 Students Using AI-Powered Instruction and AI 102: Leveraging AI Prompt Engineering for Engineering Design Pedagogy was previously released.
“These professional learning courses are designed specifically for teachers who want to experience a fresh, modern approach designed to enrich their knowledge and teaching journey,” said LSI’s Director of STEM Outreach, James Reynolds. “Attendees will discover the foundations of AI and explore how integrating these advancements can transform their educational practices. They will also be at the forefront of driving long-term, meaningful change for your students and families, as an InSPIREd teacher.”
The professional learning courses begin June 1-5 with AI101 at Franklin County Schools, Eastpoint. The second session of AI 101 will run June 15-19 at Walton County Schools in DeFuniak Springs. Both AI101 and AI102 at Pensacola State College, Pensacola (June 22-26) and Bay County Schools, Panama City Beach (July 6-10). The final week of workshops will feature AI 101 and Robo 101 at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville (July 13-17). To register, please visit https://www.cpalms.org/inspire/aicourses.aspx.
LSI strives to lead the way in creating innovative educational solutions that seamlessly connect theory with practice. Through advanced research, we develop industry-leading methods and implementation strategies to enhance systematic learning at all levels and in all environments. For more than five decades, LSI has been committed to driving measurable improvements in the performance of both individuals and organizations.
