Engineering and Technology

Arkansas 4-H SeaPerch Challenge is a regional qualifier for the International SeaPerch Challenge  hosted by RoboNation. This is open to any youth within Arkansas. Youth construct a remote operated vehicle (ROV) to maneuver through underwater obstacles. Learning objectives such as construction, buoyancy, circuitry, team development, engineering design process and much more are accomplished in this project. 

Click here for more information about the current SeaPerch Challenge.

Many 4-H Clubs across the state participate in various robotics competitions including FIRST Lego Leagues and VEX Robotics.  These teams compete across the state in various competitions within their respective leagues.

This is an introductory robotics curriculum that requires no special equipment. It is designed to develop critical thinking skills, engineering design process, and basic robotic designs.

Most of the items needed for activities include binder clips, paper clips, rubber bands, pennies, craft sticks, and other general home and office supplies. Limited supplies are available through the State 4-H office. Check with your county agent for availability to check out these supplies. 

Arkansas 4-H is excited to incorporate aviation curriculum. The usage of drones is a growing technology with all job fields. This program where youth can learn basic aviation, flight, and proper flying techniques. The beginner level of the program is focused on flight, lift, wind and basic drone techniques where the advanced level teaches about safe flight of an Unmanned Aircraft System (U A S) and U A S flight crew.

3D Printing has a wide range of applications from printing replacement parts, designing prototypes, and even prosthetics. 3D design can be used with household items to computer aided design software. 

Knowing how to program a computer is a vital skill in today's workforce. Computer coding can range from basic coding of a series of steps to complete lines of code for resources. Don't let this topic intimidate you, if you can follow a recipe, you can follow code. The past few years, National 4-H Council has devoted the National Youth Science Day program to Computer Science in teaching the basic concepts and giving opportunity for growth  of youth that participate no matter what skill level they are at. 

Check out resources below and on our CS Page for easy to follow activities that can be done with or without computers. There are many ways to learn about how computers "think" and process information no matter what setting you are in.

• 4-H Computer Science Playbook  (GREAT resources on starting a Computer Science program in your county)
• Getting Started in Computer Science  (presentation by Lori Canada)
• Computer Science Vocabulary
• Hour of Code Activities
• CS First  (Google sponsored Computer Science clubs, FREE resources sent to you)

• Grinch Hour of Code
• Tie-Dye with Permanent Markers
• Paper Circuits
• Ball Launcher
• STEM Works Activities

Arduinos are micro-controllers that can be programmed for just about any function. Check out the resources and activity listed below for your advanced coding experts.

• What is it?
• Download Arduino Software  and start coding now.

Follow the instructions for an activity to get started.

Goals & Objectives:

Let's code to make the LED blink. Learn the basics of coding.

Activity Instructions

1. Make sure that the program Arduino IDE is installed on your computer.
2. Make sure you have a controller board, USB connection & LED light.
3. Place the LED into #13 on the pin board.
4. Open Aurdino IDE & paste the code blink below into the workspace.
5. Send code to the Arduino
6. Can you make the light blink faster/slower?
7. Can you make it blink SOS?

Code Blink:

void setup() {

pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT); }

void loop() {

digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);

delay(1000); }

• Build a basic bot - 5 Minute Bot Plans
• Use these mazes   to program your EV3 bot from start to finish
• Lego Mindstorms Introduction to Programming