Saskatchewan school divisions now have the opportunity to offer robotics and automation classes to their students. Robotics and Automation classes, which include coding, are now available for Grade 7-12 students, ensuring classrooms are meeting the needs of 21st century students.
At the high school level, Robotics and Automation 10,20,30 fulfills the Practical and Applied Arts (PAA) elective required for high school graduation, while content from the Robotics and Automation curricula may also be taught in PAA courses at the Grade 7-9 level.
These courses were developed in collaboration with teacher experts around the province with input from stakeholder organizations, including:
Saskatchewan Polytechnic;
Regina District Industry Education Council;
Yardi Systems Canada Ltd;
Innovation Saskatchewan;
SaskTech;
Let’s Talk Science;
SaskCode; and
SeedMaster.
The new classes were piloted in 18 school divisions, including the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises, and four First Nations education authorities last year, and are now available to all school divisions. “Through funding from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Saskatoon Industry Education Council (SIEC) developed SaskCode—a robotics and coding program based on K-12 curricular outcomes,” SIEC Executive Director Janet Uchacz-Hart said. “With our continued partnership with school divisions and with the new Robotics and Automation curriculum, Saskatchewan youth will be well-equipped with the skills they need to be prepared for future studies and STEM courses which lead to the jobs of the future.” Boards of education will determine what schools will offer these classes within their division, supporting the local needs of their students.
