Sixth-graders at the STEM Academy are busy inventing and developing innovative technology ideas all through the Invention Convention in their robotics class. Throughout the school year, the students worked with engineering assistive technology devices, and the convention is their end-of-year project to tie all of their knowledge and skills acquired from their robotics class.

"The Invention Convention is a lot of fun, but also challenging" said Xavier Inesta, sixth grade STEM student. "It is difficult to build a working model of my team's robotic arm, It is challenging, but I can do it."

Because the theme for this year's Invention Convention is "Adapting for a Better Tomorrow," the students had to invent or develop an assistive technology device. First the students completed a brainstorming phase to collect ideas, and then researched their ideas to come up with the invention or innovation. Next, the student groups completed an idea pitch form to be approved by Melissa Gossett, robotics teacher. From there, the students developed a sketch of the invention/innovation and, finally, a working model to demonstrate how their idea works.

"This has been a good challenge for my students," said Gossett. "It is allowing them to be creative and innovative in their designs and models. They are using knowledge they have gained this year in all of their classes to complete this large engineering task, I am very proud of my students and the efforts they are applying to this project."