Career education is having a moment, and not just among policymakers.
According to a recent EdSurge article, 97% of high school graduates take at least one Career and Technical Education (CTE) course, and CTE now accounts for 15% of all public high school credits in the U.S. As more students ask for learning that links directly to future careers, schools are expanding access to experiences that go beyond the traditional college-prep path.
This shift comes with a clear call to action: Students don’t just want to learn about the world. They want to build it.
That’s where ORA Industry Applications comes in.
A New Way to Bridge Robotics and Career Readiness
ORA Industry Applications is the newest module in Ozobot’s middle and high school robotics curriculum. Building on the foundation of ORA Essentials, this course challenges students to apply their skills in real-world contexts. Across 12 projects, they use Ozobot’s six-axis robotic arm to design, test, and code solutions inspired by careers in fields like construction, manufacturing, health science, and logistics.
Each challenge positions students in a career role, from robotic technician to automated packaging specialist, and gives them a chance to solve problems using engineering design, block-based programming, and CTE-aligned technical skills.
Why Industry Applications? Why Now?
Career education is most impactful when it is hands-on, relevant, and grounded in authentic application. ORA Industry Applications was developed with that exact vision in mind. It supports:
- CTE programs looking for robotics curriculum aligned to industry standards
- STEM classrooms seeking meaningful connections between coding and real-world systems
- Educators preparing students for careers shaped by automation and advanced technology
All lessons align with ISTE, CSTA, and STEL frameworks and support national and state standards, including Texas TEKS and Florida’s Applied Robotics benchmarks.
Featured Lesson: Robot House Builder
In Robot House Builder, students explore the future of construction through the lens of robot-assisted additive manufacturing.
Taking on the role of Robotic Construction Engineers, students program ORA to construct a miniature home, complete with walls, windows, and a roof. They begin by sketching cross-section blueprints on engineering paper, planning one layer at a time before bringing their structure to life using ORA and Blockly.
The lesson also includes a virtual scavenger hunt to explore construction careers and highlights the growing use of 3D printing in sustainable housing. An optional extension challenges students to formulate their own 3D-printable building media and test it with ORA as a custom concrete extruder.
Featured Lesson: Pack and Play; ORA Style
In Pack and Play; ORA Style, students step into the role of an Automated Packaging Technician, solving a logistics challenge for a fictional company with a viral product.
Students use ORA and Evo to automate the packing process – loading wooden cylinders into shipping tubes, applying caps, scanning packages, and sorting them into outgoing boxes. Evo signals when the workspace is safe for human interaction, introducing students to human-robot collaboration and warehouse safety protocols.
Students finish the challenge by testing which packing materials work best with ORA’s vacuum gripper and recommending design improvements. The result is a practical, engaging look at automation in the shipping and distribution industry.
Built for Real Classrooms, Designed for Real Careers
ORA Industry Applications was created with flexibility and classroom realities in mind. It supports a wide range of instructional models used in middle and high school CTE and STEM programs—from centers-based learning to full-class robotics instruction to project-based learning in a makerspace.
To make implementation seamless, each lesson includes:
- Ready-to-use teacher guides and lesson plans
- Student activity sheets, blueprints, and engineering tools
- Blockly programming share codes via the Ozobot Editor
- Build instructions using everyday materials like red Solo cups and cardboard, or optional 3D CAD files for schools with printers
Lessons emphasize applied robotics and engineering design, encouraging students to prototype, test, and iterate solutions inspired by real industry challenges. This flexible format supports both independent exploration and guided instruction, making it ideal for differentiated classrooms.
Each lesson also includes a short instructional video that introduces the featured career, demonstrates the challenge in action, and reinforces key technical concepts. These highly visual, hands-on videos support accessibility, boost engagement, and bring each industry scenario to life in a style that is distinctly Ozobot.
Together, these elements create a curriculum that supports project-based and problem-based learning, builds automation fluency, and prepares students with the mindset and skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving workforce.
Closing the Gap Between Education and Industry
ORA Industry Applications gives students more than a glimpse into the future. It puts their hands on it. With every challenge, they gain experience using robotics to solve authentic problems, explore careers in high-demand fields, and build confidence in their technical and creative abilities.
Backed by a thoughtfully designed curriculum, real-world tools, and accessible instructional supports, this module empowers educators to bring robotics and career-connected learning into any classroom. As students build, code, test, and iterate, they are not just learning about the future of work. They are preparing to lead it.
