KISS Institute for Practical Robotics

Botball Educational Robotics Program: The Botball Educational Robotics Program engages middle and high school aged students in a team-oriented robotics competition, and serves as a perfect way to meet today's new common core standards. It serves over 6,000 students per year in 13 US regions and 3 International regions. By designing, building, programming, and documenting robots, students use science, engineering, technology, math, and writing skills in a hands-on project that reinforces their learning. Students are exposed to an inquiry-based, learn-by-doing activity that appeals to their hearts as well as their minds. Botball addresses our nation's need for a well-prepared, creative, yet disciplined workforce with leadership and teamwork experience.

Global Conference on Educational Robotics (GCER): The Global Conference on Educational Robotics (GCER), produced by KISS Institute for Practical Robotics, is a professional conference designed for middle and high school students, their teachers and mentors, technology education professionals, robot enthusiasts, and invited professional guests. The GCER gives attendees the inspiration and experience of a professional conference, encouraging students to further their knowledge, network with other students from around the world and pursue related careers. Teachers and mentors have many opportunities to network, exchange best practices and develop new approaches to STEM education.

Junior Botball Challenge: The program provides professional development to elementary educators (K-5) to enable them to teach their students to write computer code. Curriculum is aligned to science and math standards and vertically aligned to concepts and skills in middle and high school. The program focuses on discrete programming skills and engineering design concepts designed to improve computational thinking skills and promote mastery. The program culminates in a one-day public event where students showcase their robot designs and solutions.