Robotics class fosters creativity and curiosity

For the past couple of Tuesdays, kids and teens in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area have been gathering in a small room at the Portneuf Library tinkering with robotics.

The robotics class is part of the “Make it at the Library” initiative by the Idaho Commission for Libraries. Holly Jackson, a young adult/adult services librarian, created the free class to let kids and teens get a taste of robotics without having to join a club.

Jackson said programming at the Portneuf Library figure out their interests.

“Our programs see if they like engineering, if they like art, or if they like building with cardboard,” she said. “We let them really explore that so those interests can blossom instead of being squished.”

The class is eight weeks long and teaches basic electronics and programming. By the end of the program, each participant will be able to build and program their own robot.

Nathan Steadman and Mariah Satterfield have been building a robot carousel the past couple of weeks. In Tuesday’s class, the two novice engineer’s diligent work got the carousel to spin.

Steadman said their motivation to construct is simple, “We just want to get it to work.”

That’s the kind of attitude Jackson is trying to push with this class.

“One of my mantras is failure is just a stepping stone,” Jackson said. “It’s okay if it doesn’t work. We’ll figure out why it didn’t work and we’ll fix it so we can do it better next time.”

For more information about the Portneuf Library’s free classes and programming, you can go here or call them at 208-237-2192.