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High school teachers learn more about VEX IQ robots during a SCORE professional development training, developing the coding and robotics skills needed to prepare students for classroom learning and robotics competitions.

High school teachers learn more about VEX IQ robots during a SCORE professional development training, developing the coding and robotics skills needed to prepare students for classroom learning and robotics competitions.

Teachers across Alabama spent the summer building their robotics skills and preparing for the upcoming school year through a series of professional development training courses led by Auburn University’s SCORE office.

From June 2 through July 28, SCORE hosted and led 18 professional development opportunities in six Alabama communities, providing 167 educators with hands-on experience using a variety of educational robotics platforms. The trainings provide teachers with the knowledge, confidence and resources to bring robotics and coding into their classrooms.

“Professional development is at the heart of SCORE’s mission because when we invest in teachers, we’re investing in students,” said Assistant Director for SCORE Jennifer Spencer, PhD “By equipping teachers with the skills and confidence to teach robotics and coding, we’re helping them inspire future STEM leaders.”

SCORE partnered with organizations across the state to expand access to professional development, including Alabama Technology in Motion, the Black Belt STEM Education Institute at the University of West Alabama, Wallace Community College Selma, Bevill State Community College in Jasper, Mobile County Public Schools and Lee County Schools.

 

Teachers explore VEX 123 robotics during a professional development training at Wallace State Community College, gaining hands-on experience with a platform they can use to introduce young students to coding, robotics and engineering.

Teachers explore VEX 123 robotics during a professional development training at Wallace State Community College, gaining hands-on experience with a platform they can use to introduce young students to coding, robotics and engineering.

Educators received training on six different robotics platforms: CoDrone EDU, Root Robot, VEX 123, VEX IQ, VEX V5 and Sphero BOLT. The range of platforms allowed teachers to explore robotics applications for students at different grade levels and with varying levels of experience.

The hands-on nature of the trainings was especially valuable for educators preparing to introduce or expand robotics programs in their schools.

“Everyone is incredibly professional and knowledgeable. This was very helpful for coding as a teacher and coach,” one educator said following a VEX IQ Coding for Competition training in Auburn.

A teacher participating in Root Robot training at Wallace Community College Selma’s Demopolis Campus also highlighted the platform’s potential to connect robotics with core academic subjects.

“This training was fantastic! I can do so much with this. The math and science concepts with this really get your mind going,” the teacher said.

The summer training series is part of SCORE’s broader commitment to strengthening STEM education and helping educators provide students with meaningful opportunities to explore coding, robotics, engineering and problem-solving.

With 167 teachers trained across six Alabama communities this summer, SCORE is helping build a growing network of educators equipped to inspire the next generation of STEM learners.