Lead-Deadwood High School Seeing Growth in Robotics Classes

LEAD, S.D. (AP) — The Robotics craze is catching on at Lead-Deadwood High School.

The Black Hills Pioneer reports that the school's robotics classes have more than quadrupled in size over the past year from 14 students to 61.

Principal Tony Biesiot says he believes the growth is due to the technological nature of the class and its use of creative, computer-driven components.

Robotics instructor Duane Cunningham says first semester students learn basic robotics, working with robotics kits made by LEGO and making them autonomous.

Cunningham says that kids learn to fail when building robots, as a plan that looks good on paper sometimes doesn't turn out so well. He says they learn that failing is OK, especially as they discover ways to fix what didn't work and make it better.

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