(KNZA)--The Rural Education Center in the Kansas State University College of Education recently received its largest grant in history to expand a robot distance learning program

The more than $450,000 USDA grant will be used purchase robots, microphones and laptops for the 20 schools in 10 school districts involved the project.

Locally, they include Axtell High School, Jackson Heights High School, Sabetha High School, Sabetha Middle School, Troy High School and Wetmore High School.

The robots will be used as teaching tools and help to fill the gaps where districts may not have a teacher for a specific field of study.

The goal of the robots is to promote career and technical education from a distance, allowing students access to teachers and activities they may not have been able to traditionally access.