The Landstown underwater robotics team Deep Sea Tactics grew to 41 students this year and welcomed oceanography teacher Luther Meyer to the group. Excited to continue to educate students attending Virginia Beach City Public Schools, 32 Deep Sea Tactics team members visited Corporate Landing, Woodstock, College Park, Arrowhead, Luxford, Thalia and Strawbridge elementary schools.
These STEM engagements allowed Landstown Underwater Robotics students to work with nearly 1,500 fourth and fifth graders.
Deep Sea Tactics received remotely operated vehicle (ROV) parts from Nauticus maritime discovery center in Norfolk over the summer and were able to build four mini-ROVs, allowing younger students to gain hands-on experience. Additionally, Deep Sea Tactics offered to support elementary schools that wanted to start an underwater robotics STEM program to compete in the MATE Mid-Atlantic Regional Competition held in May at Old Dominion University.
Landstown students worked on their presentation and project management skills with the elementary students. This supported VBCPS Compass to 2025 Strategic Framework for student-centered success. Students actively took ownership of their learning by researching, preparing, and presenting fifth grade Standards of Learning science information to the elementary students. Because of the team member’s desire to educate students about the importance of underwater robotics, they encouraged their younger peers to learn more about math, science, English and history.
“I am incredibly proud of the Deep Sea Tactics CEO, Robert Vasquez, for ensuring that each field trip was well organized and planned and that students were prepared to set up product demonstrations and present to a diverse group of elementary students,” said technology education teacher Ty Swartz.