How Robotics is Shaping Rundle Students

Ms. Sam Sirianni scrolls through her photos to one of her favourites: two students working together on a robot. Older student Ryan N. sits on the floor of the Rundle Academy robotics room helping a younger student, Evan H., with their robot.

For Ms. Sirianni, that moment captures everything the robotics program at the Academy has become in just two short years.

“Ryan and [fellow Grade 10 student] Sam, in particular, are the trailblazers of the Academy robotics program,” she says. “They showed interest first and started it all, and now they’re carrying it into high school. So many students get this opportunity now in junior high and senior high because these two made such a strong foundation last year and this year.”

This growth is closely linked to the larger Rundle robotics program, where Academy teachers Ms. Sirianni and Ms. Keri Howard work alongside the robotics coaches and leaders at Rundle College: Ms. Sue Mylde, Ms. Nar Raeewal, and Ms. Mary Dalton. This allows our robotics students across Rundle Schools to get experiences together; students attend competitions together, wear the Rundle uniform, and learn from one another under a unified Rundle robotics banner.

The rise of robotics and STEM programming at the Academy has been rapid and intentional in the last few years. Students had a coding option course at the junior high level, where many of them discovered a new passion for the skills.

“Students finish that class and are like ‘This is the best!’ We’re now trying to expand into elementary and senior high so more kids are exposed to it because robotics is just like any other team sport, without running up and down the court,” Ms. Sirianni says. “They still learn all the same team skills in robotics that they would in basketball or volleyball.”

Building Robots, Building Confidence

For Grade 10 student Sam V., robotics has been as much about personal growth as it has been about coding.

“At the beginning of Grade 9, when I saw all the different challenges we had to do with the robot, I thought, ‘How are we going to do this?’” he says. “By the end of the year, I could see how it evolved and was able to do more. My confidence definitely went up as the year went on.”

That confidence has carried him into a leadership role on the senior high team.

“I’m the main person that helps guide and oversee things,” he says.

The shift from LEGO robotics in Grade 9 to metal robotics this year has also raised the stakes and the level of confidence for the robotics athletes.

“Grade 9 was a really positive experience, and moving up to metal, more advanced robots that are more reliable, has been even more fun,” says Ryan. “You get to control the robot now [instead of simply coding it]. The arena is huge, and the robots actually come into contact. It’s more exciting.”

Robotics competitions like the ones happening this month feel like stepping into a more pressure-filled world for our athletes.

“It feels very professional,” Ryan says. “It’s way more competitive but all of the teams from other schools are really nice and great to work with.”

The senior high robotics teams will compete at the FIRST Tech Challenge Interleague Tournament on February 7 and 8 to earn a spot at provincials.

Even with some nerves about the event, Ryan says he’s feeling optimistic: “We still have some things on our robot that aren’t perfect and we have a bit of time left to improve them, but we did really well at the last competition, so I think we can do the same for this one.”

LEGO Lab: Learning Through Trial and Error

In another room at the Academy, the younger LEGO robotics team is where the next generation of builders is learning robotics.

Like Ryan and Sam, these athletes joined robotics out of curiosity for coding, robots, or even video games. It’s developed into something much deeper since they joined.

“What sounded interesting for me was the robot part, because I’ve always been really interested in robotics. I thought of it as an opportunity to learn more,” says Grade 8 student Ben, one of the LEGO robotics coders.

The learning, he says, has been exponential. The biggest lesson has been understanding the importance of patience through trial and error, given how finicky robotics can be.

“If the code doesn’t work, I change something by a certain number of degrees and then try it again,” he says. “Eventually you get it down to the right degree. Then, if you line it up perfectly, it works.” 

Fellow Grade 8 student Dom handles the lining up of the robot, which is crucial in LEGO robotics

“Lining up is very important,” he says. “It impacts where your robot goes, and if it can complete the missions. It’s a lot of retrying and learning from your mistakes.”

Krue, in Grade 7, says what he likes about robotics is that there is a space and role for everyone. Every student can find their niche and interest, and bring that to the team.

“Usually I work on the presentation, because you have to do a presentation as part of the competition,” Krue says. “That’s my job. Some people code, some people work on the robot, and some people do the project. I like that I can present and do public speaking.”

The junior high LEGO robotics students take part in the First LEGO League Southern Alberta Qualifier on Sunday, February 1.

Soft Skills, Real Impact

Ask any of the students what robotics has taught them, and they quickly move beyond the tactical skills, such as building and coding.

“Robotics definitely teaches collaboration, communication, and teamwork,” Sam says. “Our robot always has issues, so we have to problem solve and communicate to fix them. In almost any environment, you have to work with a team to fix issues.”

Ryan adds that robotics “teaches problem-solving skills, especially being able to work through challenges and persevere when things are difficult… because things definitely do get difficult.”

The younger students echo that sentiment.

“There’s a lot of communication involved between the people working on the robot and the people working on the project,” Ben says. “It’s important to be communicating so that you’re all connected and know what’s going on.”

As the Academy robotics lead, Ms. Sirianni helps students build these skills in a positive way.

“Having a great teacher with a great attitude makes everyone feel comfortable in a safe place to just code and have fun,” says Krue.

“She pushes you to be the best version of yourself and helps you understand where you’re going and what you’re doing. Even if she doesn’t have all the answers, she’ll help you get them,” says Sam.

The opportunity to access robotics has also changed how they see Rundle. 

“This is a pretty cool school because there are so many opportunities,” Ben says. “I can learn coding and robotics, or do a play, or join another team sport.” 

Adds Dom: “Here, the wide selection of things you can do means there’s something for everyone.”

Most of all, robotics is an open and welcoming space for any student, says Krue: “There are really good opportunities, you meet so many friends, and the vibe is just perfect.”

If you want to see our robotics students in action, head out to North Trail High School on Sunday (Feb. 1) to watch the First LEGO League Southern Alberta Qualifier. Next weekend (Feb. 7-8), catch our seniors compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge Interleague Tournament at Nelson Mandela High School.