Northwood robotics team TechnoDREAM 50881 hosted workshops on the last three Sundays of April, introducing over 30 participants to coding and Lego robotics.

Designed for ages 6 to 15, the workshops were part of the First Lego League outreach initiative and offered building stations, robot demos and coding instruction. At the first workshop, held on April 12 at Onnuri Church, the team brought in robots for participants to take apart and organize into bins, in addition to teaching them how to block code. As part of the FLL, the workshops were meant to teach students about teamwork and discovery and to serve as an entry point for students interested in competitions such as the VEX Robotics Competition. 

“This is not an easy event. However, the reason I decided [to hold it] is that, by coming here, we can start something,” said TechnoDREAM coach Iris Yoon, an adult who works with the Northwood students. “Now, I’m impressed. Look at them. They’re so interested. This is why we’re here. Seeing one thing lead to another.”

The team was invited by Onnuri Church to host the workshops after their earlier success at the Girl Powered STEM event on Jan. 20, held at a rented room on Technology Drive and sponsored by the BLAD Research Foundation. The event featured speeches and hands-on robotics activities for students aged 6 to 18 to give girls a glimpse into what it’s like in the STEM field.

“[Hands-on events] can really inspire people because they see that it is possible for them to do this as well,” said sophomore Kailey Yoon, who helped lead the event. “I think that can show them that it’s not as hard as they think it is, and it’s also very approachable.”

The team plans to start a year-long FLL robotics outreach program for younger students, in addition to forming an all-girls TechnoDREAM team next year.

For more information, visit the team’s website at technodreamusa.com or their Instagram at @technodream50881.