How this robotics teacher gets students interested in a challenge

“Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news. As a student at Arsenal Technical High School, Isaac Adams did the minimum amount of work needed to pass. That changed when he took a physics class with Mark Blachly in 2007. “I discovered a passion for the mechanics of the world and how math can be used to explain everything from basic moving objects to thermodynamics,” Adams said. Adams was struck by the creative tactics he used in his teaching. For example, he created a website and database where students could turn in their homework. “I know that sounds mundane now, but in 2007 it was crazy,” Adams said. “He just took everything to the next level and expected nothing but the best from every student.” Blachly was able to be “incredibly kind” but firm, Adams said: “It was incredibly intimidating going in, but I knew that he wanted the best for me and would push me to do what I needed to do.” That experience in physics class inspired Adams to become an educator. He now teaches engineering, digital electronics, and robotics at his alma mater. He also coaches the Indianapolis school’s robotics team, which for the first time this year competed in the VEX Robotics World Championship . He started teaching at Tech in 2017. “If I could sum up Tech in one word, it would be ‘legacy.’ It’s an incredible campus that is rich with history,” he said. “I was given the chance to come back to Tech and step into Dr. Blachly’s shoes. I didn’t know at the time that I would end back up with engineering and also step into the role of a robotics coach, but I’d like to say that I’m beginning to establish myself and build a similar reputation on campus.” Adams has helped grow the robotics team, which began with a tough first season in 2022-23. “We competed twice and got our butts kicked,” Adams said. But this year, the team took seven awards from nine tournaments — the most in the school’s history. Adams spoke with Chalkbeat about engaging students in academics, COVID learning loss, and his biggest challenges in being an educator. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. What was the most challenging moment in time for you as an educator, and how did you overcome it? It’s hard to point to a single time, but teaching hybrid during COVID was definitely tough. Our students go through a lot in their personal lives and the challenges of virtual/hybrid teaching brought a lot of those issues more clearly into the light. I spent those years trying to focus on the future. I began writing grants to build a makerspace and that effort is what led me to the engineering lab that I call home today. Arsenal Technical High School teacher Isaac Adams, right, with members of the 7410X robotics team at the VEX Robotics World Championship. Over the course of months, I was able to secure over 30 3D printers, a (computer numerical control) machine, and a laser cutter. We also procured thousands of dollars in tools and robotics components that get used daily by engineering and robotics students. However, as any engineer will tell you, the work is never done, so I continue to refine the space and try to make it more useful. I may have started building during COVID, but I’m still working on it. How have you addressed pandemic learning loss? In second-year engineering, I typically reserve time to do math boot camps to make sure they have the skillset for a given design challenge, such as trigonometry. The best thing you can do is to let them get their hands dirty. You can’t just tell them about a concept, let them play around with it and struggle. What advice would you give to educators who coach an academic extracurricular? If you can get the students to buy in, they will take over and make it so much better. My robotics teams have grown this organization to a point where we have met all of our goals year after year. Get them excited, give them ownership, and let them drive. What part of your job is most difficult? I think the biggest challenge in my role is that it’s not one dimensional. I’m not just an engineering teacher; I am also a small-scale designer and manufacturer. I’m not just a robotics coach; I’m also the chair of the Arsenal Tech Faculty Musical committee. I never have a day that looks the same as the day before. That’s a challenge, but also incredibly gratifying. If I had to pin down one thing, it would probably be the most challenging part of being an inner-city teacher: all the stuff outside my lab. My kids come in with some really challenging home situations. There are a lot of attendance-related issues and financial struggles that I can’t do anything to help with, and they have a huge impact on my classroom. My lab is a place where we can build things and focus on what matters in the room. We rarely talk about the looming changes to IPS or the political shifts that will impact education. In our space, we focus on what we can control and how we can make the greatest impact on those around us. That’s how we’ve framed it, and I hope it can continue to be that space for students and for me. What was your biggest misconception that you initially brought to teaching? You don’t have to be the Dr. Blachly all the time. Sometimes kids will just remember you as the guy they knew they could come talk to when they need someone. Or, they need someone they know they can count on to be ready for them with something crazy when they walk in. What’s the best advice you’ve received about teaching? Kids need teachers who will kick their butts in the nicest way possible. They need to know that academics are rigorous, but they also need to understand why it’s hard and have the support of their teacher and their peers as they navigate it. Amelia Pak-Harvey covers Indianapolis and Lawrence Township schools for Chalkbeat Indiana. Contact Amelia at apak-harvey@chalkbeat.org .

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