Frequently Asked Questions
What does the State Robotics Grant include?
Awardees of the grant will receive the following:
One robotics professional development training session for awarded educators
VEX IQ Curriculum
(1) VEX IQ Field and Game Elements Kit
Registration for one elementary VEX IQ Challenge team
What is VEX IQ?
VEX IQ is an exciting robotics platform that transforms science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning for young students. Participants snap together VEX IQ parts and build a simple yet powerful robot to explore open-ended challenges, which are designed to enhance their STEM skills. Teams will love driving their robots in 60-second Teamwork Challenge matches and testing their skills individually during two optional 60-second Robot and Programming Challenges.
Who can apply?
501 (c) (3) that works with students who are in 1st-8th grade. Please note: only one grant will be awarded per organization.
What are the terms and conditions for the State Robotics Grant?
All applicants should review the Terms and Conditions before applying for the grant.
Will I get training?
Yes! We want to make sure EVERY educator is comfortable with the robotics kit, robotics team management, and competition. We will be hosting required professional development training sessions for educators who are awarded the grant. In addition to learning the skills needed to start a robotics team, we will also walk educators through how to use the robotics kit.
What additional expenses for robot parts can I anticipate?
This grant includes everything you need to get started, but teams are responsible for paying their own registration fee to participate in local competitions (approx. $40-70). In future years you may want to purchase additional kits and/or parts if you decide to add additional teams to your program. In addition, each year the game challenge changes and you will need to purchase the updated game elements (approx. $150). For more VEX IQ product details, visit: www.vexrobotics.com/vexiq/products. Some teams may want to consider purchasing team t-shirts, snacks during meetings, and travel arrangements to local and regional competitions; however, many teams seek out local companies who are willing to sponsor the team and cover the cost of these items.
How much time will coaching a team involve?
Create a schedule that best meets your team’s availability, needs, objectives, and resources. For younger students, it may be helpful to limit meeting length to no more than two hours once a week. As competitions approach, your team may decide to meet more frequently in order to better prepare for their participation in the VEX IQ Challenge. The average team spends around 1-2 hours per week for 6-12 weeks to build their robot.
When are competitions?
Local and regional competitions in Indiana typically start in October and go through February. The Indiana state competition will be in March. The world championship is in May and held in Dallas, Texas.
Will my team have to attend a robotics competition?
Yes, each team is expected to attend at least one local event. You and your students will have so much fun that you will want to compete as much as you can. Read about a rookie VEX IQ team's first robotics competition on our blog!
How much are competitions?
Each local competition costs around $50 dollars per team.
What is the size of a team? How many students?
A typical team size ranges from 3-12 students with an ideal ratio of 6-8 students per robotics kit.
Can I have additional VEX IQ teams?
Yes! You can add additional teams at your school for an extra $200 registration fee, plus you will need an additional robotics kit, which will not be covered by the grant.
Does a team need access to computers? Will a Tablet, Chrome Book or iPad work?
It is recommended that a team have access to a computer with an internet connection in order to utilize the free online curriculum and programming resources. Your robot can move and operate without programming; however, students will want to learn how to program their robots as their design becomes more advanced. Tablets, Chromebooks, and iPads will work for gathering resources; however, you will not be able to program your robot without a Windows or Mac machine.
Will the software be provided?
VEX IQ provides free graphical programming software called VEXcode (learn more here) which allows for custom robot commands, sensor interactions and more. Educators will be offered training on how to use the software after professional development. Also, there are resources available to help both educators and students learn how to use the software.
What type of work area do I need?
A classroom is a perfect size for your team to work. If your team decides to purchase a full-sized 6’x8’ field you can easily disassemble the field into smaller easy-to-store sections.
Where can I get more information about the Game Challenge?
Updated game challenge information can be found here: www.vexrobotics.com/vexiq/competition/competition-resources.
Are there resources available to use for the students?
VEX IQ provides a lot of free resources for both educators and students which can be found here: www.vexrobotics.com/vexiq/education.
Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
You can contact us at RobotGrant@techpointyouth.org.