Omaha-Area Middle School Students Attend Computer, Robotics Workshops at SCC-Milford
Students from Papillion and La Vista middle schools participated in a one-day computer workshop at Southeast Community College's Milford Campus in early October.
Students were presented with the individual pieces that make up a basic computer: a tower to hold components, a mother board, a DVD writer/player, graphics card, a processor, fan to keep processor cool while running, 2 GB memory, and required wiring to assemble a working computer. Following the instructor's verbal directions, the main assembly was completed and the operating system install started before lunch and continued running while students enjoyed a complimentary meal in the campus cafeteria.
Students were amazed at how much they enjoyed the experience.
"I never knew building a computer could be so fun," one said.
Said another, "Building a computer was amazing. The whole process was just awesome."
Another student said, "The whole workshop was awesome. There were some parts where we, my partner and I, didn't know what to do. But when it was finished, I was proud because I had finished something of that magnitude."
Software installation should not occur until a person is sure that the general computer, operating system and drivers are working properly. Students were instructed to think about what would need to happen next before installing other software or connecting to the Internet. They were given some basic trouble-shooting techniques to check on in order to try to isolate and resolve possible problems, such as identifying an unknown driver.
Students learned logging onto the Internet should never happen while using an administrator login, as this gives spyware, malware, or viruses full access to the computer, as if it were the owner. Using administrator login to work at the computer should only be used when doing maintenance, installing new software, updates, etc.
Students were then shown a large networking computer system in the room adjacent to the classroom they worked in. Lastly, students were presented with a folder of materials offering more information about educational opportunities at SCC, along with a T-shirt.
The same group of students came back to Milford the following week for the Robotics Workshop put on by the Electronics Systems Technology program.
Some student comments following the Robotics Workshop:
"I loved building the Vex Robot. It was very cool. I liked how we didn't even have to program it and we could customize it."
"Building the Vex Robot's body was hard, but customizing it was a blast! If there were some ideas from teachers, I think more kids would add more. The fights were fun and really cool. I wish we had parts at my house. The frame was tough. But after that it was awesome."
"It was totally fun!! Building it was challenging, but it was very satisfying in the end. Customizing it required a lot of thinking, ingenuity and patience, but that was the best part of all."
For more information, contact:
Stu Osterthun
Administrative Director of Public Information and Marketing
(402) 323-3401
sosterthun@southeast.edu
Students were presented with the individual pieces that make up a basic computer: a tower to hold components, a mother board, a DVD writer/player, graphics card, a processor, fan to keep processor cool while running, 2 GB memory, and required wiring to assemble a working computer. Following the instructor's verbal directions, the main assembly was completed and the operating system install started before lunch and continued running while students enjoyed a complimentary meal in the campus cafeteria.
Students were amazed at how much they enjoyed the experience.
"I never knew building a computer could be so fun," one said.
Said another, "Building a computer was amazing. The whole process was just awesome."
Another student said, "The whole workshop was awesome. There were some parts where we, my partner and I, didn't know what to do. But when it was finished, I was proud because I had finished something of that magnitude."
Software installation should not occur until a person is sure that the general computer, operating system and drivers are working properly. Students were instructed to think about what would need to happen next before installing other software or connecting to the Internet. They were given some basic trouble-shooting techniques to check on in order to try to isolate and resolve possible problems, such as identifying an unknown driver.
Students learned logging onto the Internet should never happen while using an administrator login, as this gives spyware, malware, or viruses full access to the computer, as if it were the owner. Using administrator login to work at the computer should only be used when doing maintenance, installing new software, updates, etc.
Students were then shown a large networking computer system in the room adjacent to the classroom they worked in. Lastly, students were presented with a folder of materials offering more information about educational opportunities at SCC, along with a T-shirt.
The same group of students came back to Milford the following week for the Robotics Workshop put on by the Electronics Systems Technology program.
Some student comments following the Robotics Workshop:
"I loved building the Vex Robot. It was very cool. I liked how we didn't even have to program it and we could customize it."
"Building the Vex Robot's body was hard, but customizing it was a blast! If there were some ideas from teachers, I think more kids would add more. The fights were fun and really cool. I wish we had parts at my house. The frame was tough. But after that it was awesome."
"It was totally fun!! Building it was challenging, but it was very satisfying in the end. Customizing it required a lot of thinking, ingenuity and patience, but that was the best part of all."
For more information, contact:
Stu Osterthun
Administrative Director of Public Information and Marketing
(402) 323-3401
sosterthun@southeast.edu
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
| Papillion LaVista middle school students work on assembling a robot during the SCC Robotics Workshop held in early October. | |
