Robotics
Robotics emerges in many forms throughout the BCIL’s programming, from Lower Schoolers learning rudimentary coding to Middle and Upper Schoolers competing with the school's Robotics teams.
Students learn to think like a team of engineers — they design, build, and program robots together. The Robotics teams, open to students in grades 6-12, meet after school and prepare students to take newfound skills to a variety of robotics meets. All students are welcome, including those who also want to play after-school sports (we can usually make it work!). The BCIL hosts guest speakers — experts who apply robotics in their careers and lives — to motivate and educate team members and other interested students.
SpaceX Speaker Kicks off Robotics Season
Robotics season kicked off with a visit from SpaceX engineer Scott Bell. He did high school and college robotics and was recruited to SpaceX from a robotics tournament! Mr. Bell inspired students to brainstorm creative solutions for this year’s FIRST Tech Challenge.
Robotics Team
At a typical Robotics practice, you would find team members brainstorming, sketching robot designs, and discussing creative solutions for the FIRST Tech Challenge, where they are presented with a new challenge every year. Students engineer and strategize in our new dedicated Robotics space, designed to foster creativity and collaboration. Students are challenged and thrive on the creativity, friendship, faculty support, and Robotics know-how, returning year after year to the BCIL Robotics after-school program.
Design with Purpose
Design with Purpose, a Summer at Brentwood program, teaches skills in robotics, engineering, critical thinking, and communication — through projects that have real-world application. For one recent summer project, students customized battery-powered, ride-on cars for children with limited mobility.
Buddy Bots
Buddy Bots, a STEM and robotics outreach program, originated with a BCIL independent study. Brentwood students provide after-school robotics classes in elementary schools around Los Angeles, prioritizing Title 1 schools, which receive federal funding for low-income families. Started by three Upper School girls, BuddyBots encourages young students to pursue STEM careers and inspires girls to pursue robotics.
Coach Ross: Inspiring Robotics Students
Coach Nick Ross brings enthusiasm and deep experience in robotics to the BCIL program. He has a decade of experience in competitive robotics and has competed at the Robotics World Championships.
Mr. Ross holds a master's degree in computer engineering and has a wide breadth of teaching experience at various educational levels — a plus for the BCIL's K-12 curricula.