This week as junior high students went to robotics camp they got a taste of why school subjects like algebra matter out in the real world, and they are excited about it.

The Selma BEST Robotics program offers students a chance to get a hands-on learning experience with robot programming, software and 3D technology and a glimpse into the professional life of an engineer. BEST, or Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology, seeks to develop engineers for the workforce in order to stop the impending cycle in Alabama of educated and skilled students moving away and draining the Black Belt region of skill sets.

On Friday, the week-long summer daycamp for BEST came to a close but the students’ preparation for their competition robots is just beginning. This fall BEST teams from all over the region will compete at Wallace Community College, using their robots to solve problems.

Each year to keep the teams on their toes, the tasks the robots will have to perform are kept top secret.

State coordinator for Friends of BEST, Janis Stewart, said last year robotics teams had to work through a scenario in which genetically engineered bugs had escaped from a lab and the student’s robots had to retrieve them. All robots are remote controlled and the students’ design them independent of adults.

“It is all controlled by the students, you wont even see the teachers because the students are handling every detail themselves,” Stewart said.

She said the students learn all kinds of real world applications for subjects like algebra, English, public speaking and good body language.

“They truly start to understand why we need algebra,” Stewart said. “Algebra is the language of robots and computers and all of a sudden they love algebra because they want their robot to run. So all of those things that their teachers have been forcing them to learn they now want to learn.”

The students also realize the importance of English when they have to keep an engineer’s notebook that must be thorough and clean. They learn the importance of marketing as they create and promotional campaign for their robot, complete with business cards and a booth presentation to judges.

Hub Director for Selma BEST, Johnny Moss said he wants to stress that this program is part of work force development.

The program is even funded by a state grant for work force development.

“I see the program as a vital part for the Selma and Dallas County workforce development,” Moss said. “You have industry that’s always looking for an area to relocate and they are looking for skilled workers. Not only does this provide our students with programming skills and math skills but they learn how to work in teams… it just makes them well rounded.”