Whitesboro Central School District News: SUNY Poly Robotics Team Visits High School Technology Classes
Published:
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 - 16:25
The “Second Mouse.”
It’s not the name of a pop band or even a computer. Second Mouse is the name of SUNY Polytechnic (Poly) Institute’s FIRST Robotics Challenge (FRC) team. Two members from the team - - and its robot - - visited Project Lead The Way (PLTW) classes at Whitesboro High School on September 24.
The technology classes, taught by Mr. Jensen and Mr. Smith, are primarily for juniors and seniors. During the year, their students make “BattleBots” - - small, remote controlled machines. So, being able to see and learn about Second Mouse’s much larger robot, first hand, was a rewarding experience.
“There’s a direct link between what Second Mouse does and what Whitesboro’s students are doing,” said Shawn Casler, technology teacher at Whitesboro Middle School. “I have tried to help the High School and Middle School form a close relationship with SUNY Poly because of its location to Whitesboro and its Nanocenter.”
Second Mouse is also known as Team 5030 and is registered with the parent organization FIRST - - For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. Team 5030 is in its third year of competition and in 2013, it’s very first year, it won the Tech Valley Regional at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, earning the team an invitation to compete in the World Festival in St. Louis, Missouri.
