In a recent YouScience survey, industry leaders say their number-one challenge is a shrinking talent pool. Trends in STEM hiring show that due to rapid advances in technology, the skills and attributes employers are seeking in potential candidates is evolving to a higher demand for professionals with both technical experience and valuable interpersonal skills, or soft skills. A disconnect between these soft skills and technical knowledge has left many employers frustrated with the current talent pool within the industrial manufacturing industry.

The CTE Workcell is designed to bridge this gap by providing students exposure to real-world applications of workcells within the context of industrial automation. By engaging in authentic STEM activities, students learn the fundamentals of industrial robotics and manufacturing operations, including object transport, sorting, and palletization, while also building valuable soft skills, such as critical thinking, adaptability, creative problem-solving, communication, and collaboration. Let’s take a closer look at how the various features of the CTE Workcell connect to industry applications and equip students to succeed both personally and professionally.

Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders

Students develop both hard skills and soft skills through exploring the different components of the CTE Workcell, completing STEM Lab Units, and participating in the Engineering Design Process. The design of the CTE Workcell and activities in the STEM Labs curriculum align with current industry standards, and allow students to explore real-world applications of workcells. 

6-Axis Arm and the Cartesian Coordinate System 

Through manipulating the 6-Axis Arm, students will gain valuable mathematical skills while exploring industrial manufacturing. Like many robotic arms in the manufacturing industry, the 6-Axis Arm operates using the Cartesian Coordinate System, a mathematical grid of values that includes x, y, and z axes for a three-dimensional (3D) space. Many industrial robots use a Cartesian configuration, including 3D printers as well as robotic arms used for pick and place operations, material handling, product assembly, welding, painting, drilling, and palletization.

Through learning about the Cartesian Coordinate System, students will master mathematical concepts such as understanding coordinate planes; identifying coordinate locations; and calculating and coding precise movements of the 6-Axis Arm. Students can also use the Teach Pendant in VEXcode EXP, designed to emulate real-world handheld devices used to control robotic machinery. Students who normally find mathematics intimidating will find learning exciting through completing relevant activities based on real-world use cases.

Conveyors and the Signal Tower

In addition to the 6-Axis Arm, the CTE Workcell includes both serpentine and linear conveyors, the two most commonly used conveyors within industrial manufacturing. As students explore these conveyors, they will learn about the importance of timing during material transport and the real-world applications of using sensors to detect and sort objects. Using the CTE conveyors and sensors, students can transport, sort, and palletize Disks and Cubes based on their respective features, such as color and April Tag.

Furthermore, the Signal Tower, a structure used to communicate operation status using colored lights, is also designed to teach students authentic industry applications. Students will learn how to code the Signal Tower to signify errors, the need for human intervention, safe conditions, and more. As students explore these applications, they will enhance their coding skills. Students will also improve their ability to collect and analyze data and will strengthen their scientific inquiry skills as they observe, predict, record, and communicate project outcomes.

Student Self Assessment

Students will use engineering notebooks to demonstrate their learning over the course of the STEM Lab Units through prompts, self-reflection questions, and assessment activities. Students will record key terms, questions, designs, and new ideas to catalog their learning. Through completing self-assessments at the midpoint and the end of the Units, students will gauge their learning, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate growth.

Engineering Design Process

Through CTE Workcell activities, students will learn the core components of the Engineering Design Process, including how to define a problem, develop solutions, and iteratively optimize solutions. In the process, students will learn that failure is the pathway to growth, and risk taking is key to innovation. These qualities are what employers are actively seeking– candidates that have the ability to effectively problem-solve, adapt to new challenges, and reflect on processes for improvement and refinement.

As students complete their engineering notebooks and STEM Lab Units, they will learn to collaborate with their peers effectively to provide feedback and develop innovative solutions to challenges. Soft skills such as critical thinking, communication, and teamwork will benefit students not only in the classroom, but in the workplace, both within the STEM field and beyond.

Alignment With Industry Standards

The CTE Workcell components and the CTE STEM Lab Units are designed to address industry standards in industrial automation. Lessons align with the robotic skills checklist provided by the Society for Manufacturing Engineering (SME), and include topics such as Manufacturing Foundations, Robotic Applications, Safety, Robot Hardware and Software, and Robot Programming and Operations. Students will learn the same core skills required of engineers and machinists, including the ability to describe coordinate systems, understand end effectors, and perform online coding.

CTE Courses are a solid resource for any student desiring to earn the Robotics in Manufacturing Fundamentals (RMF) certification. For additional information about specific Industry Standard connections, see the following resource: VEX CTE Workcell Industry Standards.

The CTE Workcell has the power to inspire the next generation of machinists, engineers, programmers, and designers. According to a YouScience survey, 62% of high school students believe college and career readiness is one of their school’s responsibilities, yet only 41% feel prepared to make a career choice at graduation. For students who feel uncertain about their future, developing career interests within industrial automation through the CTE Workcell can be transformative as they acquire new skills and discover their natural aptitudes. By fostering hands-on experience and igniting passion, the CTE Workcell not only addresses this gap but also paves the way for a confident and capable workforce, ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow’s industries.