Inclusive Robotics Education: Hands-On Approach
Here’s a breakdown of teh key information about Dr. Berry from the provided text, organized for clarity:
Who is dr. Berry?
* An electrical and computer engineering professor at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
* A passionate advocate for hands-on, interactive robotics education.
* Dedicated to making robotics accessible to diverse audiences, particularly those historically marginalized.
What does she do?
* Teaching: Teaches robotics at Rose-Hulman, emphasizing hands-on learning.
* Outreach: “Takes robots to the streets” – demonstrates and discusses her open-source, 3D-printed wheeled robots at schools, libraries, museums, and community venues.
* Audience: Engages with audiences ranging from young children (ages 3+) to adult educators.
* Social Media: Actively uses social media to promote robotics and STEM, overcoming her introversion.
* global Impact: Through an IEEE Education Society initiative, she’s helped graduate students in countries like Costa Rica, Niger, and Uganda build and program robots.
* Community Building: Co-founded Black in Engineering and Black in Robotics – organizations supporting Black professionals in STEM.
Key Principles/ideology:
* Accessibility: “I have to go where people are…I get robots in front of people who are historically marginalized and would normally not have access to these technologies.”
* Engagement: Described as ”very approachable and very engaging.”
* Practical Learning: Focuses on the three pillars of robotics: sense, plan, act (demonstrated with sonar, microphones, and speakers).
* Interactive Experience: Allows audiences to play and interact with the robots.
* Visibility: Believes “visibility matters” in promoting STEM.
Recognition:
* Has received awards, starting around 2023, due to her community-oriented service.
* Received an award from the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society in 2023 (the text cuts off before detailing the specific award).