Thank you Champions for Learning!

Champions for Learning Award Letter

Yesterday, representatives from Champions for Learning visited my classroom with a wonderful surprise.  They have generously awarded us a Classroom Grant to support our multi-program FarmBot Project.

Congratulations to Mr. Myers and Ms. McMullin recipients of a Champions for Learning classroom grant @Champs4Learning pic.twitter.com/NCQ3uKys4N

— iTECH (@iTECH_College) October 10, 2016

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This school year, students in the Computer Systems and Information Technology, Applied Cybersecurity, Machining, Construction, Automotive and Culinary programs will be working together to transform our courtyard into a sustainable robotic farm called FarmBot.

The farming industry is integral to the Immokalee community.  However, as technology and innovation advance, residents will find that that jobs that they have relied upon no longer exist.  This project will help students in the Information Technology, Machining, Construction, Culinary and Automotive programs apply the knowledge gained in the classroom to a project that illustrates emerging industries and potential careers in a new economy.  Specifically, students will work together to build and use an open-source CNC farming machine called FarmBot. This inter-program initiative will be the first of it’s kind at iTech.

Our official logo for the project is still in the works.

What exactly is FarmBot?  FarmBot is touted as being "Humanity's First Open Source CNC Farming Machine".

For more great information about FarmBot check out the website.

Immokalee Technical College is very excited to start this program and would like to share some details about our vision from the grant application:

Goal:

Our goal is that by participating in this project students will work cooperatively to make the correlation between traditional vocational programs and real world application of those skills while preparing for careers that don't even exist yet.  

What will be done with Students:

The project will kick-off this month as iTech hosts a two-day Hackathon event.  At the Hackathon the project will be introduced to the community and students will be able to work on project in detail with input from community leaders in the field.

Throughout the fall semester, students will participate in the following activities:

• Computer Systems will fabricate parts for the Farmbot using 3D printing technology.  
• Machining students will manufacture precision parts with CNC machines.
• Culinary Arts students will plan the garden and choose the crops to grow.  They will analyze the sustainability of options in partnership with the University of Florida IFAS Extension program.
• Construction students will design and build a raised farm bed that will be located in the courtyard of the iTech facility.
• Automotive students will design and construct the solar and rainwater collections systems.

The goal is to be ready for assembly at the beginning of the Spring Semester when the following activities are planned: (January 2017)

• Computer Systems students will implement and support the server technology required for the project as well as assemble the electronics required for robotic control of the farm.
• Construction and Automotive students will assemble the tracks, gears and motors required for operation.
• Culinary students will monitor the progression of the crops and notify the others if maintenance or replacement parts are required.
• Machining students will analyze the design of the FarmBot for areas of inefficiencies and design solutions to them.

When completed, the farm will become a permanent fixture on the iTech campus.  The possibilities exist for the farm to be used in ongoing projects such as expansion, modifications, and production for our culinary program.

Benefit:

We expect that across five vocational programs, over 150 students and their instructors will be directly involved in the project.  Indirectly, the entire body of 350 students will benefit by the cooperative nature of the program and sense of pride the FarmBot build will foster around campus.

Additionally, we expect students to be better prepared for the workforce from the chance to apply traditional skills in a non-traditional manner. We believe that program completion (graduation) rate will increase, as well, due to increased student engagement.

Our campus is well suited for a project of this nature because of our location in an agricultural area.  Ideally, we hope students will see the value of their community and choose to stay or return thus decreasing the “Brain Drain” trend that is pervasive to Immokalee.

Thank you, again to Champions for Learning, for their support of this exciting project!

More information on Immokalee Technical College and our programs can be found on the website: www.itech.edu