Southlake Times > News
Global Strengths Students Take 3rd in BEST Robotics competition
By Heather M. Goodwin, hgoodwin@starlocalnews.com
Clariden School of Southlake recently competed in its first Texas BEST Regional Robotics event and took home third place in the overall competition.
"While The Clariden School is not about winning, the reality is for the past six weeks, students have been hard at work and this recognition validates the rigor and excellence of our program," said Jenifer Fox, head of school. "We aren't playing with toys; we are competing with students much more seasoned and experienced and coming out as a recognizable force."
The Texas BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) event featured 18 middle and high school teams from across the area. Fox said the school's team was made up of mostly middle school students competing against older students. Judging was based on engineering notebooks, multimedia marketing campaigns, booth displays, interviews with judges, robot designs and ability and team spirit.
"For this competition, we integrated all categories of learning. The competition has different categories that correspond with our classes. The team had to write a paper, read different information, create a marketing presentation for the robot, make a booth where they informed people about the topic, space elevators, build the robot and come up with a strategy to win," Fox said. "All the categories came together to create the overall competition. Out of the 18 teams, we were rookies in the competition."
According to BEST Robotics, the program introduces students to engineering, problem-solving and teamwork; a chance at experiencing what it's like to work in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. Each fall, more than 750 middle and high schools and more than 11,000 students participate in the competition.
"Our school has a project-based curriculum for advanced and motivated kids," Fox said. "This robotics event was a six-week project. There was a kick off event where we received the rules and materials for the competition. For us, we worked on the project during school hours because of it was our Global Strengths Program."
Fox said the robotics competition fit with the school's project-based Global Strengths program. Within the program, middle and high-school students learn to analyze and solve problems using methods that incorporate individual preference while teaching teamwork and cooperation and learn skills that the 21st industry seeks in its workforce. Global Strengths was launched in September with 12 students, all following a rigorous curriculum developed by Fox.
"The school brought me here to create program modeled after my book 'Your Child's Strengths.' A lot of the curriculum is based on my work that I wrote in 2008," Fox said. "I came to this school because it is in an area where there's a private school need and a strong public school system. I think this is a great place to have something to counter that."
Fox said Clariden School students produce real world measurable work. She said students are intelligent and engaged in learning and want to apply their learning.
"Research shows that colleges are looking for kids who are self-motivated and can follow projects from begging to end. Our students, upon graduation, will have a portfolio of their accomplishments at this school. They're learning Photoshop, websites and other real world applications.
Fox said the students at Clariden tend to be creative and motivated toward learning. She said there have been no absences since the beginning of the school year.
"Global Strengths moves away from the educational model which uses school test scores as indicators of achievement. Today's students must learn the realities of global business and how to follow their personal strengths," said Fox. "Our curriculum cultivates inventors and creative risk takers, rather than rewarding compliance. We are so proud of the Global Strengths students and their families."
"While The Clariden School is not about winning, the reality is for the past six weeks, students have been hard at work and this recognition validates the rigor and excellence of our program," said Jenifer Fox, head of school. "We aren't playing with toys; we are competing with students much more seasoned and experienced and coming out as a recognizable force."
The Texas BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) event featured 18 middle and high school teams from across the area. Fox said the school's team was made up of mostly middle school students competing against older students. Judging was based on engineering notebooks, multimedia marketing campaigns, booth displays, interviews with judges, robot designs and ability and team spirit.
"For this competition, we integrated all categories of learning. The competition has different categories that correspond with our classes. The team had to write a paper, read different information, create a marketing presentation for the robot, make a booth where they informed people about the topic, space elevators, build the robot and come up with a strategy to win," Fox said. "All the categories came together to create the overall competition. Out of the 18 teams, we were rookies in the competition."
According to BEST Robotics, the program introduces students to engineering, problem-solving and teamwork; a chance at experiencing what it's like to work in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. Each fall, more than 750 middle and high schools and more than 11,000 students participate in the competition.
"Our school has a project-based curriculum for advanced and motivated kids," Fox said. "This robotics event was a six-week project. There was a kick off event where we received the rules and materials for the competition. For us, we worked on the project during school hours because of it was our Global Strengths Program."
Fox said the robotics competition fit with the school's project-based Global Strengths program. Within the program, middle and high-school students learn to analyze and solve problems using methods that incorporate individual preference while teaching teamwork and cooperation and learn skills that the 21st industry seeks in its workforce. Global Strengths was launched in September with 12 students, all following a rigorous curriculum developed by Fox.
"The school brought me here to create program modeled after my book 'Your Child's Strengths.' A lot of the curriculum is based on my work that I wrote in 2008," Fox said. "I came to this school because it is in an area where there's a private school need and a strong public school system. I think this is a great place to have something to counter that."
Fox said Clariden School students produce real world measurable work. She said students are intelligent and engaged in learning and want to apply their learning.
"Research shows that colleges are looking for kids who are self-motivated and can follow projects from begging to end. Our students, upon graduation, will have a portfolio of their accomplishments at this school. They're learning Photoshop, websites and other real world applications.
Fox said the students at Clariden tend to be creative and motivated toward learning. She said there have been no absences since the beginning of the school year.
"Global Strengths moves away from the educational model which uses school test scores as indicators of achievement. Today's students must learn the realities of global business and how to follow their personal strengths," said Fox. "Our curriculum cultivates inventors and creative risk takers, rather than rewarding compliance. We are so proud of the Global Strengths students and their families."
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