8 Online Robotics Programs for Middle School Students

Robotics is one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving fields in today’s tech-driven world. If you’re a middle school student curious about robotics or eager to understand how technology works, joining a robotics program can be a fantastic opportunity. These virtual programs make it easier than ever to explore robotics from the comfort of your home, offering flexibility while still providing engaging and interactive learning experiences.

Through hands-on experiences, you’ll learn how to design and build robots, explore the technology behind them, and solve real-world challenges. Beyond the technical skills, these programs help you discover potential academic and career pathways, giving you a head start on your future goals. Participating not only expands your knowledge but also builds your confidence and prepares you to stand out in a competitive and innovative world.

Here’s a list of 8 online robotics programs for middle school students that could be a great fit for you!

1. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers

Location: Virtual

Application deadline: January 5, 2025, for the Spring Cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8

Program dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort

Cost: $1,790 (need-based financial aid available)

The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual course designed for middle school students to learn the basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, students explore Python programming, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. The program includes lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. 

Veritas AI Trailblazers provides an engaging platform for young learners to develop coding skills and gain foundational knowledge in AI, preparing them for future studies in technology and computer science. By the end, students complete a hands-on project on a topic they choose, such as building a music genre classifier or creating an algorithm to recommend educational resources.

2. The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program

Location: Virtual

Application deadline: Varies according to cohort; for the upcoming winter cohort, the deadline is December 29, 2024

Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8

Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year

Cost: $2,400 (Financial aid available)

The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an immersive 8-week remote learning experience designed for middle school students eager to explore academic fields like machine learning and artificial intelligence. The program is structured to help you delve into specialized topics while guiding you in developing a personalized research project.  Mentors are scholars from top universities like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.

Founded by a Harvard and Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard, the program is fully virtual, rigorous, and offers need-based financial aid for eligible students. You’ll explore four different topics in your selected track during weeks 1-4. In weeks 5-6, you'll take a deep dive into one specific topic area and define your project. 

This program emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, offering a unique opportunity to solve real-world problems while building practical skills. By the end, you’ll have completed an academic project tailored to your interests, laying the groundwork for future exploration of AI and ML.

3. Mission to Mars: Robotics in Space - Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

Location: Online

Application Deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: Students in grades 5 and 6; CTY-Level Math required

Program Dates: 3 weeks, 12-15 hours per week ( three hours of class and 9-12 hours of independent work) or only once a week 

Cost: $1,365. Financial aid is available

This Mission to Mars: Robotics in Space course from Johns Hopkins focuses on robotics and space exploration. Students will discover how robots can survive and navigate extraterrestrial environments, like the Martian surface. Through the program, they will learn programming concepts such as conditionals, variables, functional decomposition, abstraction, and flow control. Participants will also design, build, and operate a robot equipped to handle the challenges of a Martian landscape.

Designing a robot to survive on Mars requires tackling challenges like extreme conditions, autonomous operation, and the ability to gather useful scientific data. The program helps you figure out the importance of space and robotics. 

4. Robotics and AI By Great Learning

Location: Virtual

Application Deadline: Open enrollment

Program Dates: Self-paced; available year-round

Eligibility: Open to students of all ages

Cost: Free

In Great Learning's free course on Robotics and AI, you’ll explore the fundamentals of robotics and its connection to artificial intelligence. Designed for beginners, this free online program covers essential topics such as control systems, algorithms, robot programming languages, machine learning basics, neural networks, and the ethical considerations in AI.

Throughout the course, you'll explore the relationship between robotics and AI, delve into real-world applications, and understand the skills necessary for a career in these fields.

5. Discovering Arduino: Building Smart Devices

Location: Virtual

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions

Program Dates: Available year-round

Eligibility: Open to middle school students (grades 6–8)

Cost: $15

In the Discovering Arduino: Building Smart Devices, you'll enjoy a one-hour interactive session with an expert instructor. Created by professionals from Google, Stanford, and MIT, this lesson covers the basics of electronics and Arduino coding. You'll learn to build simple systems like alarms and motor controls while exploring circuit design and programming.

During the session, you'll learn to design circuits, use an Arduino simulator, and experiment with basic block coding to control virtual systems like LEDs. Optional projects, such as Home Automation and Smart Cars, offer exciting ways to practice your new skills and apply them creatively.

6. Fleming Tech Camps’ Esports: Roblox Cyber Showdown

Location: Virtual

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions

• Program Dates: June through August depending on the cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 4–10

Cost: $ 249.99

Esports: Roblox Cyber Showdown is a program designed to engage participants in innovative activities that combine gaming and technology. Designed for students in grades 4–10, this camp combines the excitement of esports with hands-on robotics challenges, enabling participants to explore robot design, programming, and functionality in a fun and interactive setting.

Participants will work on building robots, tackling real-world challenges, and learning problem-solving skills. The program includes three hours of instruction per day, providing a balanced mix of learning and enjoyment, while preparing students for success in the rapidly evolving digital age.

7. Create and Learn’s C ++ Essentials For Teens Class

Location: Virtual

Application Deadline: Rolling basis

Program Dates: Sessions available year-round; each part consists of 5 sessions, 70 minutes each

Eligibility: Grades 8 to 12

Cost: $413

The C++ Essentials for Teens program helps students in grades 6–12 build on their Python knowledge to understand C++ concepts, a crucial skill for those interested in robotics development. C++ is integral to robotics due to its efficiency and ability to control hardware directly, making it essential for tasks like managing sensors, actuators, and real-time processes. 

The curriculum covers essential elements of the language, data structures, and object-oriented programming through project-based learning. Additionally, you'll take your first steps into algorithms, which are crucial components of large-scale computer systems. Software Development, Gaming Development, System/Embedded Programming, and High-Performance Applications are part of the program. 

8. Fundamentals in Cognitive Robotics

Location: Virtual

Application Deadline: Rolling basis

Program Dates: Self-paced; available year-round

Eligibility: Open to students of all ages

The Fundamentals in Cognitive Robotics course, offered by Alison, provides an in-depth introduction to the fundamental building blocks needed to create a ‘thinking’ robot. The course is designed to help you understand what it takes to develop the 'robot of the future' — one that can interact with its environment and understand human needs. You will explore the materials and technologies required to build such a robot and gain valuable insights into the most complex cognitive system in the world: the human brain. 

This course offers a unique interdisciplinary approach, combining elements of neuroscience, materials science, and robotics. The first module will introduce you to the fundamentals of Cognitive Robotics. The second module will take you inside the cognitive architecture of the brain, helping you understand its structure and how it can inspire the development of a cognitive robot. Finally, you will complete a course assessment to consolidate your learning and test your understanding of the concepts covered.

Tyler Moulton is Head of Academics and Veritas AI Partnerships with 6 years of experience in education consulting, teaching, and astronomy research at Harvard and the University of Cambridge, where they developed a passion for machine learning and artificial intelligence. Tyler is passionate about connecting high-achieving students to advanced AI techniques and helping them build independent, real-world projects in the field of AI!

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