Beginning this year, the juniors learned to program and operate several robotic cells in their Automation Club held every Friday. Instructor Nick Anson has been leading the pilot project, which is part of the Shift 2.0 Robotics program through Buffalo Manufacturing Works.

“When we first started, some of the students weren’t sure what to expect, like any typical course,” Anson said. “Once the hands-on part started, they were scratching at the door to get in here.”

During the past school year, students were given tasks to complete using the robotic arms. Such tasks required precise programming and allowed club members to learn practical uses for automation in the workforce.

“Since we took off running, it’s been great. The kids were enthusiastic about it,” Anson said. “Every week, we were ready to go, ready to do the next step.”

During the past school year, WNY P-TECH students took part in a pilot project that introduced robotic cells to their Automation Club. The pilot is part of the Shift 2.0 Robotics program through Buffalo Manufacturing Works. Club members are pictured with WNY P-TECH instructor Nick Anson. Submitted photo

Susan Witt, manager of industrial training for Buffalo Manufacturing Works, said a “critical need” was recognized for workforce recruitment and training in the manufacturing sector. She said Buffalo Manufacturing Works created the automation program for high school students with support from Empire State Development and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

“We are grateful for the enthusiastic partnership with P-TECH through Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES to launch this exciting first-of-its-kind opportunity in Dunkirk for students to earn an industry standard certificate,” Witt said. “The hands-on learning the students received has put them steps ahead in their automation careers and we look forward to building on the success next school year with a new class of students.”

Once comfortable with the equipment, students were able to use the robotic arms for different purposes.

“I learned different ways to get it to move,” said Jared Sek of Dunkirk Central School. “There’s different sets of moves and trying to make it the most efficient while keeping it safe.”

Seamus Matwijow of Gowanda Central School and Nicholas Williams of Holland Central School used the program to disassemble and then reassemble a house built with Lincoln Logs.

“It was a great project, and this has been a lot of fun,” Williams said during a recent meeting of the Automation Club.”

Anson said another student was able to program one of the arms to play Monopoly on a mobile phone.

“It was interesting to see their take on it and how they attempted to use them,” Anson said. “It’s very similar to the way it will be used in industry.”

Scott Flick of Silver Creek Central School and Felix Manzella of Fredonia Central School were the first two WNY P-TECH students to earn their certificates in Educational Robotics Training — Core.

By the end of the school year, every junior in the program earned their certificate.

Anson noted that the industry-standard collaborative robotics certificate will help students as they move on to post-secondary education or the workforce.

That certainly will be the case with Flick.

“I think it’s been really cool because you get to play with robots,” he said of the Shift 2.0 Robotics program. “It’s all hands-on, and you can make it do pretty much anything you want. Knowing how to read code is very important as well, so it’s going to help me out later on in my field.”

The WNY P-TECH STEM College & Career Academy offers a project-based, differentiated learning structure with specialized educators working in tandem with higher education, business partners, and public school districts. Students work to earn NYS Regents Diplomas and A.A.S. degrees in Welding Technology, Mechanical Technology with specializations in CADD or machine tool, or Mechatronics from Jamestown Community College.