Stallions and Wolfpack students are paving a new way forward into robotics technology with the help of their Engineering Technology Instructor Reid Singletary through Southeastern Community College’s Career and College Promise program. Integrated into Singletary’s Diagrams and Schematics and Introduction to Electrical Wiring classes taught at South Columbus High School and Whiteville High School, the new Robotics Club exposes students to an emerging hands-on career field. 

Taught at the convenience of their own high school campus, students used diagrams to build the robots while placing and inserting wires in the correct place. In addition to using a controller reminiscent of a video game controller, students are using block coding software to drag and drop code language with a computer.  

“After the block coding, we’re going to move on to C++ coding where the students will manually write the code language for the robot’s movement,” Singletary said. “Eventually, they’ll be able to see the course or task for the robot, write the coding for it and upload it to the robot so it can move.” 

Stallions and Wolfpack students received the robot kits at the end of February and have already built them, tested their movements and started coding. Singletary said his students had “very positive” reactions to the robots because it was something many have never experienced. His students enjoy the hands-on trial and error approach to learning in the classroom.  

“They really enjoyed building them, putting their hands on something, putting it together and feeling that sense of accomplishment,” Singletary said. “I have one student in particular who is really looking forward to the C++ coding.” 

Singletary’s goal for the end of the semester is to hold a competition between his SCHS and WHS students. He wants to create a set of tasks and mazes for the robots to complete and see which school can complete them the fastest or most efficiently.  

“I have really enjoyed seeing the excitement these robots bring to the students,” Singletary said. “I like it when students forget they’re doing schoolwork and actually having fun. They are enjoying learning.” 

Josh Snyder, Advanced Manufacturing Technology Instructor, helps Singletary during class at SCHS and has seen the positive reactions from students. He said that students seeing the results of programming in real time with current technology makes the class fun and engaging.  

“I helped the students with building the robots, programming and practicing through the 20 plus VR games and exercises they can do anywhere with their phone, tablet or computer,” Snyder said. “I’m there to help them in the classroom as well as set up the competition at the end of the semester.” 

SCHS junior Logan Todd said his favorite part of the Robotics Club was playing with the robot and figuring out how to build it. Once finished robot assembly finished, Todd described it as looking like a “battle bot” with a remote control. He is looking forward to the competition aspect of the Robotics Club.  

SCHS junior Jesse Beck said his favorite part of the robot is driving it around and being able to “work with it and play with it.” He is looking forward to seeing how well everything turns out and how much he has learned from the experience. 

How it got started 

“This was a model that Dr. Sylvia Cox, SCC Executive Vice President, had observed at another institution,” said Angie Ransom, SCC Associate Vice President of Education and Training. “We’re always looking for hands-on learning experiences for our students.”  

Ransom explained that instructors built this club as a way for students to demonstrate competencies such as critical thinking, teamwork and communication. SCC’s industry partners identified these competencies, and they also prepare students for future SkillsUSA competitions. 

According to Dr. Natalie Hinson, SCC Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, the cost of the robot equipment and accompanying software used to write code was $5,692.38. Six robot kits and software were purchased with Perkins funding, a $1.4 billion federal funding initiative enacted for CTE education each year.  

“I was brought into the development conversation for this project to provide a mathematical perspective as we discussed various options on actual robot machines and the structure of the competition,” said Nicky Hobbs, SCC Mathematics Instructor. “We knew that we wanted all aspects of the project to provide opportunities for the students to learn and practice coding and to prepare to navigate upcoming challenges.” 

Hobbs explained that as students learn about the design and coding logic for the robots, they will have to apply the coding to get the desired outcome for the robots to navigate at a competition event in the future. He said this is where the math language of how the world works around us. SCC’s math department will support this effort as the students learn how closely coding and mathematics are intertwined. This unique blend of coding and mathematics will prepare students for real-world applications in technology and automation fields. 

Interested in the Robotics Club and wanting to test out your wiring and diagram-following skills? Contact Student Services at 910-642-7141 to speak with a Student Advisor.  

See more Robotics Club photos here!