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FAQ

We're here to answer your questions!
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Do I need any previous electronics, robotics, or programming experience to join?

No, ORA will have sessions ranging from beginners to advanced. Anyone with an interest in learning more about robotics engineering is welcome.

What is the cost of each course, how long is it, and what is included?

The cost for 6 week courses is $350 and for 10 week sessions is $600. Registration includes access to robotics equipment, computers, facility costs and liability insurance.

There are discounts for families registering siblings.  

Each class session for the 6 week/10 week courses is between 75-90 minutes. 

What if, after trying robotics, my son/daughter decides not to continue. Is there a refund?

If, after the first class, your son/daughter decide it is not for them, there is NO fee. After that, tuition, less a $150 non-refundable deposit, is refundable until the end of the third week. 

Based on years of teaching robotics, we are pretty confident your son/daughter will want to continue 🙂.

Do I get to keep the robot or computer I am using?

You will have full access to robot equipment and materials, including computers. Unfortunately, you do not get to keep them 🙁.

Some of our newer courses such as Arduino Lite, however, will include the student built project to keep. All Academy students get a  team shirt and some cool Okanagan Robotics Academy bling. 

What if I have never been on a team before, and what robotics competitions are there?

Welcome to ORA! Joining us automatically makes you part of the team. As for competition, there are options for individual and team competitions. For example, SumoBot can be both individual or teams of up to three, Robotic Soccer is normally teams of 2-3, Search & Rescue 1-2, etc. 

We will also have non-competitive projects such as Lightsaber construction and programming, skill based challenges like finding ideal gear ratios for maximum speed or power.

 

For those students who have always wanted to be on a team, ORA is a place where you will discover your strengths, so you won't only be a part of the team...you will be an essential part of the team.   

What type of robotics platform are we using?

Introductory and advanced courses include Lego Robotics using NXT and EV3 platforms, BBC Microbit, and Arduino.  As students advance in their understanding, they will migrate more heavily to Arduino and the C++ programming language. 

Will I be working with other students?

At ORA, we focus on community, team building, teamwork and collaboration. There will be times when you will work individually, and there will be times when you will share and collaborate with other students. 

Can I get any type of course credit to be used toward high school graduation?

We are talking to different schools to consider granting course credit to be used toward Grade 10-12 graduation. Contact us for more information. 

Why study electronics and robotic engineering? 

Canada is predicted to have a shortage of over 100,000 engineers by 2025. 

 

As robotics plays a bigger role in modern life, we will need mechanical and electrical engineers, computer programmers, innovative thinkers, and creative thinkers for Canada to remain competitive globally. 

Through our unique approach to teaching robotics, students learn mathematics, science, problem solving and critical thinking skills, communication skills, and creative arts skills...and the best part is they are usually having too much fun to realize how much they are learning. 

At ORA, everyone is encouraged to reach their potential with plenty of support from the instructors. 

How large are the classes and is there limited enrolment?

There is limited enrolment although to date we have managed to include everyone who has enrolled. 

We will be maintaining class sizes at a maximum of  10-12 students (ideally our classes are 8-10 students). Students outside of the enrolment cap will be placed on a waitlist, or can pre-register for the next session.

What are the most common questions you receive about ORA?

"Are there Spring or Summer camps being offered?" and "When is the next course?"

Our answer..."we're working on it :)"

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