(Philly, USA) Foundation for Catholic Education Leads the Way in STEAM and Robotics Education Across AOPS K-12 Catholic Schools

The Foundation for Catholic Education (FCE) supports elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, helping schools like Saint Elizabeth Parish sustain enrollment and improve education through funding and programs. Backed by donations, fundraising events, and Pennsylvania’s EITC and OSTC tax credit programs, FCE expands access to high-quality Catholic education. lts contributors have not only provided financial support but also offered teacher training and help develop robotics-based math and technology curricula.

To modernize learning, FCE introduced our 6-DOF robotic arm-myCobot into K-12 coding and robotics programs across 102 elementary, 15 secondary, and 3 special education schools in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. An FCE representative said, “We selected ER's robotic arms for their ease of use, stability, and flexibility. To date, we have procured more than 100 units to support our educational programs.”

Using graphical tools and open-source platforms, students gain hands-on skills in STEAM. Students in grades 1–3 use Blockly, a beginner-friendly graphical programming tool, to control educational cobots for basic tasks like drawing and object handling, cultivating logic and teamwork. Students in grades 4–8 use Python and ROS for advanced projects such as sorting and vision-based applications, strengthening computational and interdisciplinary thinking.

The myCobot was highlighted at the inaugural AOPS STEAM Expo & Robotics Competition on April 29, 2025, at Cardinal O’Hara High School. Students from 24 schools showcased robotics projects like cleaning assistants and food delivery bots, attracting over 500 visitors.