Bixby To Host Largest Robotics Tournament In Oklahoma

Robotics teams are growing in Oklahoma schools. Several will be competing against each other this weekend at Bixby Battle of the Bots.

The game is one of strategy and teamwork.

"They are going to be playing Full Volume, which is a game that is all about strategic moves. Not necessarily how many blocks can I score, but how do I score the blocks," said STEAM Teacher and Robotics Coach at Bixby Middle School, Traeton Dansby.

Bixby Public Schools has five sites in the district with a robotics team. The middle school is hosting one of the largest robotics tournaments in the state on Saturday, January 27.

The tournament starts at 9 a.m., and over 60 teams from schools across the state are signed up.

Teams will have to work together using their robots to put multi-colored blocks in goals. They get more points for stacking the blocks to a certain height, arranging them by color, and getting their robot across a "finish line" before the time is up.

"They are having to develop that strategy, build a robot that can accomplish that strategy, and then do it in 60 seconds," Dansby said.

The robot's design and programming are all done by the students. Sullivan Hughes, a 7th grader at Bixby Middle School, said that is his favorite part. 

"I just really like building and figuring out solutions to problems, being creative with my designs, and all the different parts," he added.

The robotics team is only in its second year but has already won numerous awards.

"I did not know something could be this cool, like most kids in this school do not even know about all of this going on," said Hughes.

His interest in robots got him into it, and now he cannot stay away.

"I get done with my work and come straight here because it is like my favorite place to be," Hughes added.

In Dansby's classroom, the students learn science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. The added bonus is collaboration and communication skills.

"You would think that they would be possessive over their ideas, but we have built this community of collaboration and learning, so we work together to make it an even better idea," said Dansby.

That is the same concept the district used to help build up robotics programs in Oklahoma.

"We have had other schools in the Tulsa area reach out and say how can we get started, what can we do?" Dansby continued, saying, "So, Bixby is really leading the way in robotics education."