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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - With expressions of excitement and anticipation on their faces, Nathalie Lavoie and John Forbes watched as their small robot rolled across a board towards a set of scattered Lego blocks.

A plough attachment on the front of the robot swept up the blocks and pushed them into a designated square on the board, outlined with tape. Some of the blocks, however, were pushed too hard and ended up outside the lines. Not discouraged, the two teachers from Thomas Simpson School headed back to their computer to adjust the robot's programming before trying the task again.

From left, Thomas Simpson school teachers Shane Kwasney, John Forbes and Nathalie Lavoie watch their robot to see if it will successfully push a group of Lego blocks into an assigned square marked out with tape. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

A group of seven educators, including six from Fort Simpson and one from Fort Liard, spent two days learning the basics of robotics. The course, run at Thomas Simpson school from Jan. 20 to 21, is part of a new initiative by Skills Canada NWT.

Skills Canada is well-known for its yearly Territorial Skills Competition, in which students compete in a variety of trades-related activities ranging from carpentry to hair styling. The organization is now looking to expand and add robotics as an additional contest area.

Skills Canada's mandate is to promote careers in skilled trades and technology. The robotics program is expanding the technological focus, said Janet Scollard, special projects co-ordinator with the organization.

To promote robotics and facilitate the creation of robotics clubs in communities, Skills Canada staff members are running a series of training workshops for teachers. The course in Fort Simpson was the second in the territory.

The workshops are designed to give teachers the necessary skills to lead robotics programs, either as extracurricular activities or as part of their curriculum.

"It's up to them how they want to go about it," said Scollard.

During the workshop the participants started with the basics including building their robots - NXT models made by Lego.

"It's really intricate," she said.

There's a mechanical aspect because all of the gears have to connect properly to make the wheels move, said Scollard.

The next step is to learn basic programming so the robots can be directed to complete assigned tasks like using a sensor to follow a wavy black line marked on the floor.

"It's a lot of problem solving and teamwork," she said.

Skills Canada NWT plans to hold its first territorial robotics competition this December. The winning team could go on to compete in the FIRST Lego League Competition in Alberta.

Ken Nowoselski, a program support teacher from Echo Dene school, is eager to give Fort Liard students the chance to participate in the robotics program.

"They're going to love it," said Nowoselski.

Skills Canada gave Nowoselski four robot kits for the school so students can get started. Kits also went to the two schools in Fort Simpson and the Dehcho Divisional Education Council.

Robotics is a fun way to get kids interested in computer technology, he said.

"It will broaden their perspectives and hopefully motivate them to stay in school," said Nowoselski.

At Thomas Simpson school teacher Nathalie Lavoie also predicts robotics will become popular.

"We can reach the students with this," she said.

Robotics is educational because it involves applied mathematics, and it's also extremely rewarding because it's a hands-on activity in which students can see immediate results as the robots move, Lavoie said.