SPOT Joins Colusa High

COLUSA, CA (MPG) —Colusa High School is now one of just four schools in the country to receive a Boston Dynamics “SPOT” robot, valued at $74,500, marking a major step forward in local STEM education.

The robot was purchased through funding from the Golden State Pathways Program (GSPP), awarded in support of the school’s dual enrollment computer science course, COMSC 6. The course, taught by science teacher Benjamin Haney, is offered through Yuba College and provides students with both high school and college credit.

“I was awarded a budget from the GSPP due to the establishment of the dual enrollment computer science course I teach,” Haney said. “This purchase was meant to give students industry-level experience and promote STEM engagement across our campus.”646

The application process for the grant began two years ago. Haney collaborated with Nikole McElwain, now assistant principal at Egling Middle School and formerly a business teacher at Colusa High. Both the science and business departments were included in the proposal.

“Nikole was instrumental in aligning my STEM goals with the application,” Haney said. “The robot will be named in dedication to her for her role in helping bring this to Colusa.”

SPOT, produced by Boston Dynamics, is a four-legged robot designed for a wide range of data collection and automation tasks. It can be programmed in Python and operated both autonomously and manually. Haney said the robot will serve as a central tool in lessons on computer science, data science, and experiment design.

“All students in the computer science class will program and handle SPOT, assuming they follow classroom procedures,” he said. “It will be used as an anchoring phenomenon to connect real-world applications with core STEM concepts.”

Students in the computer science course are already getting hands-on experience with SPOT.

“It’s actually kind of fun,” said Myley Hammock. “I thought at first it was going to be super hard, but like once you start you get the hang of it.”

Hammock said the robot’s controls are similar to a video game controller. She and classmate Angelique Pantoja both said they were excited to learn how to code SPOT to perform dances and other custom movements.

“Mr. Haney said to stand in front of you and let it run into you,” Pantoja said. “But it’s smart and knows to go around you. I was scared at first, but it’s really cool.”

In addition to computer science, SPOT will be integrated into chemistry and physical science classes. Haney is also exploring projects tied to local ecological restoration and environmental data collection, and he is open to collaborating with other departments interested in using the robot.

The curriculum itself will not change, but assignments will be adjusted to include SPOT in hands-on projects. Haney said the robot also opens the door to partnerships with professional researchers and universities.

Students who complete the COMSC 6 course will earn three college units and create a portfolio using the Boston Dynamics Software Data Kit. Internship opportunities may also be available.

Outside of class, Haney is in discussions with Chico State to host a community hackathon and said SPOT will be featured in outreach events such as the fourth-grade Science Day and the Colusa County Science and Engineering Fair.

“I hope students gain confidence, problem-solving skills, and a better understanding of how people and technology interact,” Haney said. “The long-term goal is to give students authentic research experiences and get them thinking about the ethical and environmental considerations of STEM work.”

When SPOT arrived, students, staff, and administrators gathered to see the robot in person.

“It was a special moment,” Haney said. “It was delivered next to the NASA Moon Tree we received earlier this year, so it really brought my teaching vision together in one image.”

Haney believes the addition of SPOT gives students a competitive advantage as they move toward college or career paths in science and technology.