For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics Program

Exciting high school students about math, science and engineering.

SHS First website

To further expand use of technology throughout the school, the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Program was identified as the second component of the MST initiative. FIRST is a robotics lab which teams professionals and students to solve engineering design problems in an intense and competitive environment. Students design, construct, and control a remotely operated vehicle for a sports-based series of competitions with objectives that change every year. Competitive factors are outstanding team performance and/or outstanding robot performance.

In 2004 the FIRST LEGO Program, the “little league” of the FIRST Robotics Competition, started at Keithville Middle School and was expanded in 2005 to Ridgewood Middle School. This competition is designed for elementary/middle school students ages 9 to 14. Students build a LEGO robot and compete in friendly, FIRST-style robotics events especially designed for their age group. Using LEGO bricks and other elements such as sensors, motors, and gears, teams gain hands-on experience in engineering and computer programming principles as they construct and program their unique robot inventions. To continue the expansion of the robotics program within Caddo parish, Southwood High School launched its FIRST robotics lab in Fall 2005.