Medina Alumni Spotlight: Robotics Team Coach Sakhaa Iman

BY FATIMA CHAUDHRY, Grade 6

The First Lego League is a major league robotics competition in which the competing teams need to research real world problems and build and program robots to compete. This year, the theme for FLL was Unearthed, requiring participants to learn about archaeology and program their robots to navigate dig sites. This was my first time taking part in FLL. I was part of a team of five girls called that Tic-Tech Coders who met every Sunday for two months to learn how build a Lego robot, code it to perform various tasks, and come up with a unique problem and solution about real archeology. Our coach was a twelfth grader, Sakhaa Iman, a Medina Academy alumni, who won the Best Coach Award at the competition. It was a really great achievement, so I called Coach Sakhaa on a Zoom meeting and asked her these questions for this interview:

Do you remember your first robotics experience at your school?
A: Yes, it was back in fourth grade when I participated in FLL Junior, like a mini FLL. I also remember I was the only girl in a boys team, which is why I loved to coach Tic-Tech Coders as an all-girls team.

How did your time at your school shape your interests in robotics?

A: In school, I took some subjects that fostered my interest in this field and increased my confidence. In grade 6, I took a course in Applied Engineering, which I thought was fascinating. I also took courses in Robotics that helped increase my interest and knowledge. It taught me problem solving, robot design,
and sparked an interest in coding.

Have you ever coached any teams before, or are we the first one?

A: Tic-Tech Coders is the first team I coached, but I have judged an FLL scrimmage before. I enjoyed coaching your team and helping see your confidence develop every time you solved a seemingly very difficult problem.

If you had to explain robotics to a younger student, what would you say?

A: The first thing I would say to a student who says that robotics is too hard, is that “Robotics is not as daunting as it sounds. It is basically programming the robot to do a certain task. You need to solve problems and have a big imagination.” Definitely try it out before you say “No”.

Do you want our young readers to know more about our team Tic-Tech Coders?

A: I loved the fact that the Tic-Tech Coders were all friends who were together in 5th grade. They reached out to over 20 archaeologists via LinkedIn and their social network to understand what problems archeologists face in the field. For their innovation project, they decided to tackle the very real and practical issue of flooding at a dig site that happens every time it rains. So they designed a smart tarp system with light and humidity sensors that would automatically unfold with the visible signs of rain. They had a great vibe and loved working on this project! I still remember how confidently and happily they walked back after their FLL presentation having given it their best shot. Its important to do what you love and have fun during the process and thats what the Tic-Tech Coders did.

How did you guide the team?

A: I didn’t give the team direct answers to their problems. I asked them leading questions to understand the issue at a deeper level and suggest possible solutions and alternatives. I also encouraged them to be resilient and keep on trying until they got it right. For instance, they decided to add larger tires to their robot once they felt there was little traction. They kept on iterating until they got it right and the robot was moving just the way they wanted. Similarly, they made the design slightly bulky so robot was steady. I also guided them based on my experience, for instance, I helped the team choose missions that were close to each other and could use the same attachments to get maximum impact in less time.

Who inspired you to take an active interest in Robotics?

A: My father was the one who inspired me the most. He was the Robotics coach for my team and his interest in my learning has really shaped my approach and interest.

What’s next for you?

A: I’m planning on studying engineering in college, debating between mechanical and bioengineering