Richard Perry, an English teacher at Calhoun High School, has a unique approach to the subject he teaches.

“I have been incorporating robotics and coding with my English classes for the past few years,” he explained.

His most recent lesson involves the book, “The Martian” and poses a challenge of teaching students who are both remote learning and physically in the class at the same time.

“The kids are simulating the recovery of the Mars Pathfinder from its 1997 probe mission,” he added. “I have the kids call out the code, which I enter into the computer and then transmit to the robot.”

He utilizes his phone, which is tethered to the computer, as a camera to give the kids different views of what the robot is performing and if they are coding successfully.
“I am also using a wireless microphone so the kids at home can hear me while I move around the room,” he added. “It’s actually a pretty complex process, but so far it is working.”

Calhoun Principal Nicole Hollings said that Perry “consistently offers students unique opportunities to learn coding in his classes.”

“His ability to engage student thinking in English class and use technology in novel ways is inspiring and great for kids,” she added.