Townsville's FIRST® LEGO® League goes digital

Schools from across the Townsville region battled it out at the annual FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) over the weekend (Sunday' 7 November).

Hosted by the CQUniversity Townsville Campus' the newly launched remote format allowed students to maintain social distancing while still getting involved in the world's biggest robotics and STEM competition.

The 2021 theme' Cargo Connect' focused on modern transportation and taught the students about how cargo is transported' sorted and delivered.

Students worked in teams to invent' design' fabricate and build robots from scratch' drawing out communications and testing learner literacies in mathematical' scientific' and technological core curriculum areas.

Event organiser and CQUniversity Education Lecturer Dr Bree Kitt said in these uncertain times' it is more important than ever to keep children engaged in STEM.

"CQUniversity Townsville has hosted the FIRST® LEGO® League North Queensland competition for the past five years. We are grateful to be able to continue this fun and educational event in an online format that keeps the students and volunteers safe'" she explained.

"FLL provides authentic learning opportunities for thousands of children every year and as the world becomes more complex and more challenging' it will be these students who design and carry out the solutions that address those issues.

"It fosters a sense of belonging' it celebrates shared accomplishment and offers the students a chance to be a scientist in their school and community."

Twelve teams with students ranging from nine to 16 years old participated in the event with the Mackay Home Schooling group' Townsville Grammar School and Cathedral Middle School receiving the highest scores in Robot Challenge' earning the opportunity to progress to Queensland State Championships in Brisbane.