What is the program's mission?

Our mission is to inspire students to become scientific leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills. The Potomac School's Robotics program inspires innovation and fosters qualities such as self-confidence, responsibility, communication, and leadership. All members are encouraged to participate in all aspects of preparing a robot for competition, as robotics is a multidisciplinary field.

At Potomac, our mentors encourage professionalism, striving toward high-quality work and dedication and emphasizing the importance of respect for others. While `our teams compete against each other during tournaments, they must also be able to cooperate and work together. Teammates push, cheer, and encourage each other to achieve and exceed expectations. Students are able to learn and teach each other, allowing the teams to reach an even higher level of understanding.

Who can participate in Robotics?

Potomac students in grades 6 through 12 are invited to participate in the program.

Does Robotics count as an activity credit? What is the practice schedule?

In the Upper School, Robotics counts as an activity credit during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Robotics in the Intermediate and Middle Schools is a part of the ETC (Education that Continues) after school program. You can also join a Vex IQ club during the winter season in either 7th or 8th grade.

Our VEX Robotics members meet on Sundays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Teams are welcome to stay the whole time, but they can come and go as they see fit. During the week, the Robotics lab is typically open all day and after school. Students usually utilize this resource during their free blocks and lunch periods. Our VEX IQ members meet after school on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 pm, and our First Lego League members meet after school on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30pm.

For VEX and VEX IQ, the season end is dependent on a team’s success. To compete at States, teams must qualify at a regional tournament by winning the Tournament Champion Award, the Excellence Award, or Design Award. They can also place by having a high enough skills score. For Vex IQ teams, the STEM award also qualifies. If a team qualifies at States, they will go to the World Championship, which takes place in April. For some VEX teams, it is possible to qualify for the U.S. Open during the regional competitions, which are about two weeks before the World Championship.

What's the difference between VEX and VEX IQ?

Students who are in the Intermediate School can compete in VEX Robotics, while VEX IQ is for Upper Schoolers. The VEX Robotics Competition, presented by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF), is the largest and fastest growing middle school and high school robotics program internationally, with more than 10,000 teams from 32 countries, playing in over 750 tournaments worldwide.

VEX Robotics provides students with exciting opportunities for learning STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) topics. Students learn valuable skills by using VEX, especially in the area of technological problem solving. Beyond science and engineering principles, a VEX Robotics project encourages teamwork, leadership, and problem solving among students.

Potomac’s VEX IQ program focuses on the continued implementation of the engineering design process (EDP). Emphasis is placed on EDP, time management, and goal setting. The level of complexity, analyzing and interpreting data, and critical thinking is increased. Additionally, the engineering journal is a focus in the design process and problem solving. The daily entries continue to build habits of hand and mind. The program also aims to begin to identify/teach systematic thinking and problem-solving skills; focus on innovation and creativity; integrate science and math concepts into problem solving; and model/teach negotiation and teamwork skills.