Dr. Long inspires girls to pursue STEM through robotics

Shown with Dr. Cherie Long (center top) are Kendal Henderson, Sigrid Melstrom, Robin Brusuelas, Thea Muhlstein and Abigail Lancaster. Also shown are the team’s robot and trophies.

Dr. Long inspires girls to pursue STEM

Dr. Cherie Long is on a mission to recruit more young people into computer science and engineering, particularly girls.

GGC faculty members are required to devote some of their time to service in their disciplines. Choosing to perform her service in an alternative way, Long sought to work with children.

“A friend told me about First Lego League and after researching the program, I decided to become a coach as a way to get more kids interested and involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) at an early age. Waiting until middle school is usually too late to get most students interested,” said Long, associate professor of information technology. “The opportunity aligns well with GGC’s vision to build partnerships with local communities and ultimately, enhance businesses.”

First Lego League is a nationwide, multi-faceted competition that immerses teams of children ages 9-14 in real-world science and technology challenges. The teams work together to develop a research project, presentation and a Lego robot programmed to perform certain tasks.

Participants learn to innovate, draw on imaginative thinking and work as a team while developing valuable life skills. The competition also helps kids discover exciting STEM career possibilities and ways they can make positive contributions to society.

After a decade of coaching boys’ teams, Long recently led an all-girl team of eight- and nine-year-olds with no robotics knowledge or experience. She enthusiastically accepted the challenge because she felt a personal connection.

According to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Commerce, women hold only 27 percent of all computer science jobs and the number is not increasing. Less than 20 percent of bachelor’s degrees in computer science are awarded to women, even though women hold 60 percent of all bachelor’s degrees.

“Girls are vastly different from boys in that they interact and learn differently. I had to completely change how I normally coach to accommodate their needs,” Long said. “For example, girls are much more critical of their work, and their style of presenting is quieter. They tend to talk about their failures or difficulties rather than about their successes.”

This year’s competition theme centered on the interaction of people and animals. The girls designed a dog vest customized

Below: Sigrid Melstrom, Robin Brusuelas, Endi Boender, Abigail Lancaster, Kendal Henderson work on portions of their team projects at Long’s home.

through robotics

with wireless devices and sensors that would enable a dog to summon help for an owner who is elderly, disabled or suffering from a chronic medical condition.

“It was amazing to see the girls experience tremendous growth leading up to the competition,” Long said. “In addition to learning how to build and program the robot and create the vest, they had to develop and practice a presentation for the judges – all within a four-month period.”

The team met twice a week for six hours, then daily the week before competition. Their efforts paid off when the team won a regional Core Values Award – defeating more experienced teams in their overall approach to the competition’s challenges.

Coaching is a labor of love, said Long, who estimates she has spent more than 2,500 hours mentoring her teams. She thought this year would be her last, but the girls have insisted otherwise.

Long credits fellow faculty members and parents with providing much needed support.

“GGC’s leadership has worked with me on my teaching schedule so I am available to coach, and fellow faculty have assisted. Without the support of my dean and school, it would not be possible.”

While Long’s teams have a winning record, the most important impact is best described by one of the girls’ parents.

“My daughter, Kendal, is shy and has some focus issues,” said Denise Henderson of DeKalb County. “I suspected she would benefit from a smaller group, and Cherie made sure everyone was actively engaged. Cherie has unending patience and unlocked potential in the girls that they might not have been able to do on their own. She has ignited a passion within my daughter to pursue team robotics.”

Georgia Gwinnett worked with Georgia Tech to host the First Lego League state competition in February. The college provided several student and faculty volunteers for the event. Here, GGC student Mike Deiters, infomation technology, assists two participants in getting their Lego robot ready to complete its required series of tasks.