Adaptive Robotics Workshops

Faculty Lead: Dr. Sam Dickerson

Outreach Type: Special Needs Education

The Adaptive Robotics Workshops provide hands-on robotics and engineering experiences for high-school students at the Watson Institute, a school dedicated to supporting children with special needs.

Each year, Dr. Sam Dickerson and a team of undergraduate volunteers travel to the institute to lead accessible, engaging robotics-themed activities tailored to students’ developmental and educational needs. Activities are designed to foster problem-solving, creativity, and confidence through interactive engineering challenges.

The workshops create a supportive environment where students can explore robotics technology at their own pace, while building connections with university students and faculty who serve as mentors and role models.

Impact and Learning Outcomes

Participants gain:

• Exposure to robotics concepts through individualized, hands-on activities
• Opportunities to explore engineering creativity in a supportive environment
  
• Increased confidence and interest in STEM through positive, accessible experiences
  
• Personal engagement with Pitt faculty and students who model inclusive engineering education

The workshop also strengthens ECE’s commitment to inclusive outreach by engaging faculty, staff, and undergraduate volunteers in service to students with special needs.

Support

• Hosted each year at the Watson Institute
  
• Additional support needed each year due to the difficulty of finding volunteers with appropriate clearances