Alex Cooper Photography

Kiley Treen uses her German shepherd Jenny in agriculture and animal related classes on select days at West Canada Valley Junior-Senior High School. As a result, administrators say students can have a real-world experience and become more engaged in the classroom.

The Herkimer school district started using Spheros two years ago to teach students how to code and to solve problems creatively. According to technology coordinator Ryan Orilio, they are tools that every student needs, calling coding 21st-century literacy.

Orilio works with teachers to help them incorporate Spheros and other forms of technology into their curriculum. For his innovative approach to bringing the robots into the classroom Sphero named Orilio one of 54 worldwide Sphero Heroes.