FRC Students Delivered a 3D Design Workshop to Local High School STEM Teachers

This weekend, FRC Team 10015 Bubbles had the honour of hosting a FIRST Robotics Canada Teacher Upskilling Workshop at the SolversMind studio. Led by Ryan Zhang, team captain of FRC 10015 Bubbles, the workshop welcomed 12 local high school STEM teachers for a hands-on learning experience focused on modern digital fabrication skills.

Since 2023, FIRST Robotics Canada has delivered free, hands-on Skilled Trades Teacher Upskilling Workshops for Grade 7–12 teachers across Ontario. These workshops are designed to help educators strengthen their technical knowledge and bring practical, industry-relevant skills back into their classrooms.

Bubbles was proud to be selected as a host for this important program. What made this opportunity especially meaningful is that Bubbles was the only community-based team chosen to host, while most workshops are typically held at universities, colleges, or larger institutional facilities. For our young team, this recognition reflects not only our technical growth, but also our strong commitment to education, outreach, and community impact.

A highlight of the workshop was that our student members served as the primary instructors. They taught 12 high school STEM teachers modern 3D modeling and 3D printing techniques, guiding them through the design process, digital tools, machine setup, and practical classroom applications. Instead of simply demonstrating skills, our students transferred knowledge directly to educators who will go on to inspire many more students in their own schools.

The feedback from teachers was overwhelmingly positive. Many appreciated the clarity, confidence, and technical understanding shown by the student instructors. The experience became a powerful example of what student-led learning can look like when young people are trusted with responsibility and given the opportunity to lead.

For Bubbles, this workshop was more than a technical training session. It was a meaningful demonstration of independent student work, leadership, and knowledge transfer across generations. Our students were not only applying what they had learned through FIRST Robotics, but also helping expand STEM education beyond our own team.

This experience reflects the core values of FRC Team 10015 Bubbles: technical excellence, inspiration, teamwork, student leadership, and service to the community. We are grateful to FIRST Robotics Canada for trusting our team with this opportunity, and we are proud of our students for showing that the next generation is ready not only to learn, but also to teach, lead, and inspire.