[electroken]

Hide the batteries until all of the wiring is checked (not kidding). Motor controllers in particular don't like reversed polarity or power applied to the motor side of the controller. I don't know how the roboRIO responds to reversed polarity but it could be an expensive lesson. Follow the wiring diagrams in the manual and you can't be too far off.

Students should be instructed in the proper use of any shop tools before they can use them.