The use of robotic models, computer activities and teacher made problems allow us to promote team projects and higher order thinking skills. The teams of students who compete in this category can win points for their respective teams. Students, teachers and administrators are enthusiastic about student participation in the program. This is obvious from the excitement and participation of all students. During days of competition, the talk throughout the school is about the daily or continuing competition.
Students are eager to participate because they learn while having fun.
Because the parents and school board members have noticed the student excitement and the academic importance of the program, they have strongly supported the program. The Academic Intramural competition is of team nature and provides the opportunity for success through teamwork regardless of the outcome of the competition. Building, testing and troubleshooting a robotic model is one example of many special projects designed to further encourage and reward team effort. Faculty teams are continuously working to create specific problems for the student to solve that will cause students to make real life decisions as part of the competition. The staff benefits of this project are probably just as important as the student benefits.