ADAMS TWP — Two new hands-on computer programming classes that would have students building robots could be added for next school year at the Mars Middle School.

“The long-term goal is to have more of these opportunities,” said Matt Friedman, Mars’ assistant superintendent for secondary education.

Friedman explained to the school board Tuesday night that he and middle school Principal Rich Cornell, in coming up with a computer programming technology course for the middle school curriculum, wanted hands-on learning activities, as well as opportunities for students to use the technology installed on the laptops given to students this year.

The two came up with programming 101 and programming 102, in which all seventh- and eighth-graders would spend nine weeks working with robotics kits from a company at Carnegie Mellon University.

“The students will learn to build simple robotics tools that can operate in many different ways,” Friedman said.

He said the students could build the frame of their robot, whether it be the likeness of a person, animal, alien or other idea, in art class. Then they could add the machinery built in programming class from the robotics kits.

He said the classroom used for the courses would be nontraditional, with work stations instead of rows of desks. He said students would mostly work in pairs and sometimes groups of three.

“It’s truly STEAM, projects-based learning,” Friedman said. “We thought this curriculum fits perfectly into the short- and long-term vision on everything (the district is) doing with technology.”

Cornell said the teachers at both the middle and high schools liked the smooth transition in curriculum that the program would provide as students proceed through the secondary grades.

Friedman agreed.

“The high school teachers realize they are going to get a different type of student,” Friedman told the board.

Board President Dayle Ferguson said she likes to see new programs that provide curricular sequencing from the middle school to the high school.

“This is a big theme for this board with lots of ideas,” Ferguson said, “Let’s make sure it fits in sequence.”

Cornell said he can see the program eventually expanding into a full-year course or an after-school activity.

Friedman said he already has been contacted by parents and engineering firms regarding company-sponsored robotics teams.

Parent Michelle Obid said if the program is approved, students should only work in pairs.

“It would be a shame (for the district) to go to all this work, and that (some) child would not get the benefit,” she said.

The board is expected to vote on the courses Tuesday.