Robotics and automation classes are coming to classrooms in the southwest.

The new classes were developed with help from eight organizations such as Saskatchewan Polytechnic and SeedMaster.

Jordan Daigle, a grade seven to 12 teacher in Eastend, will be teaching about robotics and automation thanks to the addition.

He said that he would be teaching students the practical applied arts (PAA) course through coding on Arduino boards.

"[Students are] still kind of beginning it, but they're really enjoying it at the moment."

"They seem really engaged by everything that we're doing and they kind of like the idea of seeing how the technology works rather than just using it."

One aspect of the course is to afford students a better understanding of the technology around them.

"I think that aspect is kind of neat," Daigle said, "to see how much coding it takes to do just even making a light blink, compared to how much must be in their phones to make it do what they need it to do."

In Daigle's classes, students will have the opportunity to make projects on speakers, lights, as well as delving into LCD screen technology.

Kyle McIntyre, director of education with the Chinook School Division, said that the division would look to this year as a learning process for themselves, along with students.

"We are very happy that this opportunity is now available for our students. Throughout the 2019-2020 school year, we will work at developing our understanding of the curriculum, building our teachers' capacity and gathering resources for our students."

The ever-growing technology industry is also something to consider in relation to the new courses.

"With our continued partnership with school divisions and with the new robotics and automation curriculum," Janet Uchacz-Hart, executive director of the Saskatoon Industry Education Council, said, "Saskatchewan youth will be well-equipped with the skills they need to be prepared for future studies."

All school divisions across the province can now host the programming in their schools.