Quaker Valley, Moon Area Collaborate on Robotics Program

Students in the  and  school districts have begun studying together in a new robotics . 

The districts launched the program last month using a seed grant from SeaPerch, an educational robotics organization, which the U.S. Office of Naval Research partly sponsors. The grant will cover the costs of student and  for the program. 

Students in the program will learn to build underwater remotely operated vehicles. 

The progam is conducted during each district's after-school robotics clubs. Teacher Joseph Prosdecimo instructs Quaker Valley's after-school program and teacher James Petrina leads the program in Moon.

Quaker Valley teacher Otto Tancraitor will use the SeaPerch program in his concept physics classes. Moon Area technology teacher Scott Hilpert will also use the materials in his regular classes. 

The teachers completed training for the program in September. Teachers have already tested their own underwater vehicles in the Moon Area High School pool, according to a district statement. 

The districts said the goal of the program was to develop competitions among the students involved. 

"It's a wonderful opportunity to hook kids with hands-on activities," said Marianne Cibulas, Quaker Valley career education coordinator.