SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Students could be using robotic arms to send text messages and write their homework this September.

Morgan Stride, left, and John Riviere, Grade 8 students at Range Lake North Elementary, act out the robotic arms that Range Lake will be using in classrooms this fall. - Heather Lange/NNSL photo

St. Joseph Elementary School and Range Lake North Elementary School have been awarded $9,000 grants from Goldenrod Research Corporation, based in Nebraska, to go towards the Youth Touch Technology Integration System, which includes four controlled robots for younger students, two closed-circuit cameras for use with robots, four intelligent robotic trainers, and one programmable air table used for problem solving, teamwork,and communication skills, among other equipment.

Both schools also got an additional $9,000 needed to purchase the equipment from their respective school districts, Yellowknife Education District No. 1 for Range Lake and Yellowknife Catholic Schools for St. Joseph.

The grant applications from both schools were impressive, according to Lea Melchior, president of Goldenrod Research Corp.

Each year, the company awards 40 grants to schools and educational institutions in Canada and the U.S.

"We get to pick schools that we think will be shining examples of how the equipment will be used," said Melchior, adding it was a coincidence to have two schools so close in proximity, but it poses some unique learning opportunities.

"Both schools have the same equipment that does the same things. They could have a competition very easily."

Principal of Range Lake North Elementary School Michelle Krause is very excited about the new robotics.

"We opened as a high-tech school. The robotics will help to regain the school's focus and help to revive the technology interest at the school," said Krause. "Technology is more than just computers. We really want to integrate these robotics into the curriculum."

Krause is not sure how the robotics will work into the program just yet, but she envisions them being used to make connections between math, science and real world application.

Krause says she is excited to be able to partner with St. Joseph Elementary School for competitions.

"There are lots of exciting possibilities and competition is very motivating for the kids," said Krause.

The school's technolody coach, Darryl Mitchener, is already gearing up to take the training in August to be able to teach the robotics.

"Building things, working with machinery – we will be getting kids involved who wouldn't normally be. This has never been offered (here) before," said Mitchener.

Carson Othmer, a Grade 8 student, said he would operate a robotic arm over playing a videogame any day.

Ariel Stuart, another Grade 8 student said robotics is "kinda cool, instead of just using computers."

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