EDTC 5630 02 ROBOTICS IN THE CLASSROOM July 20, 22, 27,
29
9
a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
FIRST DAY SCHEDULE – bounce
bot and nano rovers (chassis based balloon and motor) and paper gobble bot and
down time discussions and projects
·
discuss
and create bots that do something and relate to the real world for pre-K to
adults and special needs individuals that include energy, force, motion, and
power – these will include: gears/pulleys,
motors, solar power, hydraulics, pneumatics, paper and tech card balloon car
power chassis-based bots fashioned after nano rovers and Spirit and Opportunity
·
BOUNCE BOT
·
BLINKY
SPIDER
·
HYDRO
(water)
·
Water
powered calculator
·
PNEUMATIC
·
Tipper
truck and robotic arm
·
SOLAR (crickets, beads,
paper, kits with leads)
When energy from the sun is used to create
power, we have solar power – we’ll work with solar beads, photo paper, kits
with leads, solar motors, toy cricket and solar, solar bugs, solar kits
·
HYDRO
·
Calculator
·
GEARS
·
Gear
windmills
·
Gear
battery kits
·
WIND
·
Propeller
chassis-based
·
Balloon
powered chassis based bots
·
Merry
go round (hand/wind powered)
·
Fan
·
SOME PAPER
BOTS
·
MORPHING
·
Morphing
is not really energy or a robot, although robots are often used to demonstrate
morphing (transformer cars). Morphing is motion – it is included in our
robotics class.
·
We’ll
tie each object with curriculum and in some cases discuss and create methods to
assess
·
We’ll
discuss how to group students and how to incorporate robotics into classrooms
and merge with curriculum to enhance pre-existing lesson plans or create new
lesson plans
·
Print what you find throughout this class freely – I’ll leave all
printouts in the printer tray and you can pick them up when we break or during
assembly times when no one is presenting
http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/home/
Students will be in a hurry to dig right in,
but you need to pre-teach and you need to find activities to occupy those
students who finish before others, or for when students are waiting for parts
to set and glue to dry.
We’re going to do what students might do in a
robotics lesson – pre-teach discussion, build, and during down-time we’ll
create an activity
Create the Bounce Bot, nano-rovers, and a
paper gobble bot
· The bounce bot bounces off obstacles
and changes direction similar in design and purpose - at a very basic level -
to the two robots that are on Mars – Spirit and Opportunity, it is relatively easy to build, almost any age group
will enjoy it, it is aesthetically pleasing in design, makes sense, and does
something.
· The bounce bot is fashioned from Spirit and Opportunity on Mars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Exploration_Rover
· Gather
all pieces
according to the part’s list
·
we’ll
help each other, but each of you should make your own
·
when the Bounce Bot is finished, we’ll go out into the hallway to
test drive
·
see troubleshooting below for tips and suggestions
·
as you’re waiting for parts to dry and pieces to set, continue
with the in-class activity below
Troubleshooting
the BounceBot – list for assessing the finished product
·
problems, solutions – what can go wrong and how to fix it
·
are the front
wheels staying in position?
·
are the two
gears touching? (may have to raise the spur gear using paper punch or a pencil
to make the holes larger.
·
is it moving
too slow? Too fast?
·
does it bounce
off the wall?
·
if it goes in
small circles something is wrong with the cardboard wheels – may have to use
tubing to keep them in place
·
if it goes too
slow it may be the battery or the two gears are meshing too close – raise the
wheels using tape to make the holes smaller
Nano Rover
(motorized and balloon powered)
Paper gobble
bot http://www.education.com/worksheet/article/robotic-rider/
·
The
International Organization for Standardization also has a definition. Under ISO
8373, a robot is: "An automatically controlled, re-programmable,
multi-purpose manipulator programmable in three or more axes, which may be
either fixed in place or mobile for use in industrial automation
applications."
Your
microwave oven fits that bill, even though many wouldn't think of it as a
robot.”
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/tech/robotics/definition.html
·
print out a metric
ruler http://www.vendian.org/mncharity/dir3/paper_rulers/
·
robots
can be categorized:
o robots in the real-world (robots in factories,
homes, etc.
o robots in science, technology, and space
o robots in science fiction (in Hollywood,
reading, i.e.)
·
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/games/grades_prek-2.htm
bot activities
·
These
site explain that robots most recently include many common objects, although
true scientists would not declare your VCR as a robot http://schoolscience.rice.edu/duker/robots/robotwhatis.html
http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/online/robotics/activities/page02.html
http://www.42explore.com/robots.htm
·
The
word ‘robot’ is not a new word - it has been around for many years – click on
both of these sites – one is geared more toward younger children and is more
inclusive http://www.robotics.megagiant.com/history.html
http://www.thetech.org/robotics/timeline/index.html
·
For
elementary students
o
http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-songs-robot.htm UK song, worksheet for pre-K +
o
words
to song: http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-songs-robot-lyrics.pdf
o
worksheet:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-songs-robot-activity.pdf
o
song:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-songs-robot.htm
Discussion
and pre-teaching ideas:
what is
robotics?
·
Basically,
robotics is the science or study of the technology associated with the design,
fabrication, theory, and application of robots
·
Robotics
is considered the art and science of creation and use of robots and robotic
devices
·
The
science and technology of general purpose, programmable machine systems, most
of which are anchored to fixed positions
·
A
stand-alone hybrid computer system that performs physical and computational
activities.
·
A
machine or device that operates automatically or by remote control.
·
A typical robot has a movable physical structure, a motor or some
form of movement or energy, a sensor system, and a power supply
·
Much
of today’s technology implies that technology is the use of computers – but
technology is far more than computers, it includes digital cameras, PDAs, and a
variety of electronic or digital products and systems
·
Applying
a systematic technique - method or approach to solve a problem
·
The
discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to
practical problems
·
In the
60’s some were amused when Seymour Papert Ph.D., spoke of children learning and
enhancing their creativity by using a computer. Papert’s beliefs come from his
personal experiences as a young child when he would visit his father’s auto
shop and play with gears. In the 80’s as a researcher at MIT, Papert called
upon those early learning experiences and he produced the Logo programming
language, which led to the first children’s toys with built in computation.
During that time Papert wrote Mindstorms:
Children,
Computers, and Powerful Ideas.
·
In the foreword of his book
titled, The Gears of My Childhood, Papert speaks of his belief that students need
cognitive tools to work through the operational level identified by Piaget:
·
“What the gears cannot
do the computer might. The computer is the Proteus (sea god) of machines. Its
essence is its universality, its power to simulate. Because it can take on a
thousand forms and can serve a thousand functions, it can appeal to a thousand
tastes. This book is the result of my own attempts over the past decade to turn
computers into instruments flexible enough so that many children can each
create for themselves something like what the gears were for me.”
·
Today
Papert is considered the world’s expert in how technology can provide new ways
to learn. His beliefs come from his personal experiences, and extensions of his
ideas include robotic technology in the education field such as Lego Mindstorms
and Robolab.
·
An
extension of Papert’s belief is also evident in 1995 when Dr. Chris Dede,
Harvard Graduate School of Education, suggested the use of robots in education
during a discussion. Dede states that learning is enhanced when educators
incorporate 3-D learning environments instead of relying solely on computer
virtual 2-D environments, because children learn by manipulating objects
physically.
·
"When
children build and come up with their own solutions to construction challenges
they are encouraged to learn, not only about engineering, but also about
science and math as well as reading and writing." Chris Rogers, Assoc.
Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Tufts University (USA).
·
Children
learn easier by play according to Papert. But children need direction in play -
they need a structured support plan that shows clear progression from one stage
to the next with support before, during, and after and a method of assessing
and evaluation.
·
Creating
simple machines assist and guides students to explore physical science as they
build working models of levers, wheels, axles, chassis, pulleys, wheels, and
gears. Robotics assist children in assessing and evaluating what they build,
contributing to their development. Robotics increase children’s desire to learn
while allowing for progressive learning – at individualized rates of speed and
level. Children are learning to think critically, improving their sequencing,
communication, and tactile skills.
·
Technology ties - students will examine how incorporating robotics technology
into pre-existing lesson plans will create investigative play through the
design of meaningful projects, encourage group participation, enhance social
skills, increase comprehension, retention, and thinking and learning skills.
Students will examine and discuss how robot building involves probability,
planning and predicting, designing, hypothesizing, measuring, and applying mathematical and
scientific principles.
·
Robots encourage creativity, critical
thinking skills, group
participation; enhance social skills, and increase comprehension and learning
skills, aids in retention, assists in improving verbal skills, engineering,
technology, oral, and vocabulary skills, sequencing, following directions, reading, writing,
journaling, vocabulary, history, social studies, geography, physical education,
technology, physics, electronics, art, reading, science, history,
English, vocabulary, creative writing and social studies, physical science, math,
geography, physical
education, technology, speech, and involves exploration, data
management, investigation and problem-solving skills, probability, planning and
predicting, designing, hypothesizing, measuring, and comparing and contrasting.
· Building
a robot includes using practical purposes and solutions and then applying that
acquired knowledge to real-life situations. Students in this class will explore robot fundamentals,
types of robots and their practical applications, basic tools, robot kits,
pre-built robots, basic electronics and mechanical aspects of beginning
robotics.
· For the more advanced, robotics would include sensors and
programming applications, all necessary to manipulate more advanced robots and
can include soldering, propellers, buzzers, and lights
Integrating
robotics into content areas:
Content
that can be incorporated into robot building is endless – individually choose a
subject from the list below (you’ll use this subject as the basis for searching
activities and for your final project – you may change your mind as the class
progresses) – i.e. creating a robot has been incorporated
into the following subjects: speech (oral presentations), portfolios (writing,
vocabulary, English), literature, social studies, history, mythology,
geography, science, math, physics, current events, health, storyboarding,
technology, music, PE, etc.
Basic
content areas and benefits of robotics in the classroom:
Electronics: Creating movement –
adding motor and batteries and switches –
what movement involves and basic principals behind movement
Electronics / Technology:
Making
it ‘pretty’ and ‘functional’ – adding lights, sensors, line-followers (basic
robotics ‘jobs’ for robots to perform)
Presentations and
Demonstrations: Students
will demonstrate what they’ve created, cite the standards and curriculum content
of their project, how they plan to assess and use the lesson in their
classrooms
Science &
Physics:
robotic vehicles on Mars - why are they sent there, what are the expectations,
how do robots react to the environment – the value of gears, ratios, wheels,
pulleys and fulcrum – push and pull.
History: robots and their
uses throughout time – earliest robots, what the words ‘robotics’ and ‘robot’
mean today, robots in Hollywood, robots in everyday life - particularly in
industry - why people use robots - on the job 24/7 and they never get sick,
etc. etc. Students should be able to look at the book that came with the kit or
research on the Internet to find robot uses.
Math: metric measurement,
conversions, currency exchanges for robotic parts
Journaling, English,
Vocabulary, Writing/Reporting, Oral presentations: have students
journal their progress – or robots on Mars – write – compare and contrast -
draw a robot, give it a job to do, create their own in their mind before
creating a Lego robot
Technology: use the digital
camera to take pictures or secure a video cam to one of robots as it races
around the room – use a spreadsheet for measuring progress if they readjust the
axels, gears, etc.
Art / geography / science: create a landscaped
maze, an obstacle course, a floor map, create the landform or a landscape using
paper, or build a maze out of wood or clay, create a town, city, give the
robots antennae and eyes, draw flames with markers, or use stickers and decals.
Basic Electronics: include safety of
working with tools - besides cutting and gluing there are batteries, motors,
wires, etc. that need to be connected properly, buzzers and lights can be added
to the finished products, propellers, motors, shafts, gears, switches, etc. can
be introduced
Combining
/ incorporating other discipline areas (more involved) into robotics:
Robots increase technology skills in many areas including word processing,
researching and searching, spreadsheets and graphing, digital cameras,
scanners, presentations, computerized drawing, and programming. Using a robot
can assist students in building and improving vocabulary skills, and improve writing
and oral presentation which would involve demonstrations.
Robot building may improve and enhance social skills, diversity, and
incorporate learning communities
within the school setting as students work in groups to complete a project.
Concerning data management and probability,
robots will assist students in predicting the results of data entered, in
comparing experimental results with predicted results, and in understanding
that events will occur in a specific sequence.
In science
robots may help demonstrate a theory, explore landforms and geological
maps; in physics robots assist in
understanding concepts such as force, torque, energy, pressure, velocity,
Bernoulli, lift, drag, and lift and drag.
Current
events
and bots: http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/robots-teach-kids-how-read
In math
robots may be used to test an algebraic formula or compare ratios, develop
word problems based on elements of design, proportions, conversions, and
scales, discover geometric patterns and solve puzzles, use mathematical
language to describe geometry ideas, measure angles using a protractor.
In history
robots can be used to recreate an invention or a famous building or timeline.
In English
robots can be a story, a book, or a journal.
In communication robots can assist students in
oral speaking through demonstrations and discussions of problems related to
robot creation and further assist as solutions are presented in oral
discussions.
In music
robots can be programmed to play music, speak or sing.
In physical
education robots can demonstrate speed and maneuverability.
In art
robots can stimulate creativity and design when students draw designs and
redraw when miscalculations or flaws are recognized
In general
robots can assist in comparing and contrasting patterns and describing
similarities and differences, and sequencing and learning what comes next for
the Pre-K, K, 1st , and 2nd grade students as well as
assist the older students in recognizing the need for precision in reporting
results of specific situations. ~
http://athena.cornell.edu/educators/lp_06.html
lesson plan ideas
http://www.42explore.com/robots.htm
- describe robots and give examples of where robots can be found in the
everyday world
Worksheet ideas might
be as simple as creating a word search puzzle - http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/
- come up with a list of robotic terms and/or uses
Create a scavenger hunt, worksheet,
question/answer sheet, or a word search puzzle relative to robotics
(what are robots, what do they do, what are they used for, etc.)
·
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/09/0914_TVdisasterrobot.html
search and rescue robots
·
explain
the value of robots in everyday life, in movies and books
·
types
of robots and where can each be found
·
what elements have to be
present in a machine to be a robot
·
examine
and explain the three elements of a robot
·
where did the word
‘robots’ come from
·
history of robots, first robots, Asimov,
father of robots and why
·
analyze the history of robots and create a time line
·
analyze
the history of robots and discuss the Russian/American scientist and author,
Isaac Asimov
·
what types of robots might appear in industry and why
·
what
kinds of robots are sent to space and what do they do while in space
·
what
are virtual pet robots
·
name some robots in books,
comic books, Hollywood, etc.
·
what might future robots look
like and do
·
discuss bots in medical
science and their purpose - nanobots or nanorobots
·
humanoids - how are they
like man - how are they unlike man
·
why
use robots instead of humans
·
for
older students – explain the legal, moral, ethical, human issues involving
robotics, i.e. are robots ethically right or wrong, should they have emotions?
·
what
are humanoids, spider bots, micro robots, artificial intelligence robots
Questions
for worksheets:
In 250 B.C., Ctesibius of Alexandria
contributed to the history of robotics how?
In 1896 what was the title of the media that
showed robot farmhands of the future?
In 1923 Who coined the word ‘robot’ and what
was the name of the play?
In 1940 what did Isaac Asimov design?
What are the three laws of robotics in
Asimov’s book?
What was the name of Asimov’s book?
What was the name of the movie in 1926 that
portrayed robots in the year 2026?What was the robots name?
In 1956 what robot stared in ‘Forbidden
Planet’?
In the movie ‘A Space Odyssey’ what was the
robots name?
In 1977 what two robots stared in George
Lucas’ movie?
What was the name of George Lucas’ movie?
What type of robot was launched aboard the
space shuttle Columbia?
What was the year of the shuttle launce
Columbia?
What was the name of the first robot to be
able to walk up stairs?
What was the date this robot was introduced?
When was the first operation using robots?
What is NEAR and when did this event take
place?
In 2001 the first heart bypass operation was
performed in the UK using a robot surgeon – what was the name of the surgical
system?
Activity
Web Sites
1.
http://www.pltw.org/msprogram.shtml
high school program
2.
http://www.jcutting.freeserve.co.uk/
3.
http://www.robotics.megagiant.com/index.html
4.
http://www.littlefishsw.co.uk/software/rommy/index.html
Rommy Robot
5.
http://www.robotgames.net/Resources/Gears/gears.htm
Gears for older kids
6.
http://schoolscience.rice.edu/duker/robots/robotwhatis.html
What is a robot?
7.
http://www.42explore.com/robots.htm
What is a robot?
8.
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/robbie/
help special needs people
9.
robots in the real world -
in the home, industry, and in business http://diwww.epfl.ch/lami/robots/K-family/vacuum.html
vacuum cleaner
10.
http://athena.cornell.edu/educators/lp_06.html
Rover Race
11.
http://deepspace.jpl.nasa.gov/dsn/educ/gavrt-connectthedots.html
Deep Space Network for k-2 connect the dots
12.
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/MPF/mpf/education/cutouts.html
Build your own pathfinder
13.
http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/muses3.htm
The real rover and a movie
14.
http://puzzlemaker.com/ Create word search
puzzles
15.
http://robotics.eecs.berkeley.edu/~pister/SmartDust/
Nanobots - ‘SmartDust’
16.
http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/muses2.htm
How to build a nano rover
17.
http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/robots/robot_puzzle.htm
The spider bot
18.
http://webpages.marshall.edu/~hamilton/LEGOWEEK/LEGOp3.htm
balloon cars
19.
http://www.androidworld.com/
a look at androids
20.
http://www.androidworld.com/prod07.htm
Androids in movies
21.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/printables/printcolour/littlerobots/
color sheets
22.
http://www.blackdog4kids.com/games/maze/shapes/index.html
Robot mazes
23.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/robots/techlab/sub_showcase.shtml
Interact w robots
24.
http://www.cartooncritters.com/onlinecoloring.htm
Online coloring robot pages
25.
http://www.chabotspace.org/vsc/exhibits/ws/robotics/pbjrobot.asp robot activity
26.
http://www.imagiverse.org/activities/robotics/mer/elem/ Landscape ideas
27.
http://www.gigglepotz.com/robotics.htm
Classrooms and Robotics
28.
http://www.jeffbots.com/starwars.html
Hollywood and fiction robots – R2D2, C3P0
29.
http://www.lego.com/eng/create/designschool/lesson.asp?id=1_c&page=2
Gears http://www.lego.com/eng/create/digitaldesigner/default.asp
Design Legos online
30.
http://www.lego.com/eng/racers/dromeduel/default.asp
Lego Robot games
31.
http://www.miamisci.org/robotzoo/hotlists.php
Robot Zoo (traveling zoo of robots)
32.
http://www.papert.org/articles/GearsOfMyChildhood.html
Papert and gears
33.
http://www.renfrew.edu.on.ca/grassroots/gr_alx/challenges.htm
building robots
34.
http://www.robotics.com/report.html
what are robots?
35.
http://www.robotics.com/robomenu/
Photos of robots that people made
36.
http://www.robotstore.com/download/How_to_solder_1.pdf
How to Solder
37.
http://www.science-is.com/mechanical.htm
Tools and Safety for Children
38.
http://www.thetech.org/robotics/activities/page02.html
What is a robot
39.
http://www.thetech.org/robotics/atyourcommand/index.html
Operate a land rover
40.
http://www.virtualpet.com/vp/vpindex2.htm
robot pet page
41.
http://www.wfs.org/forema03.htm
Robots of the future –
42.
http://www.kidsdomain.com/down/pc/ballooncar.html Balloon Car Builder
43.
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Miscellaneous/ConversionTables/conversion_table.html
metric conversion
44.
http://www.quia.com/cm/17840.html matching electronics
45.
http://sln.fi.edu/pieces/knox/automaton/onlineactiv.htm
electronics
46.
http://www.starfall.com
use for writing, reading, elementary robot story problem solving
47.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/ space games – problem
solving, critical thinking, real-life situations
48.
http://robotics.nasa.gov/students/faq.htm NASA, questions,
educators, challenges, activities, ask a question to robotic engineers
49.
http://www.aaamath.com/
math, conversions, metric measurements
50.
http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov
QWhiz, make a quiz
51.
http://www.kidsolr.com/science/page1c.html Kids online
resources - robots
52.
http://chaoskids.com/ROBOTS/robots.html gingerbread
kindergarten
53.
http://www.thetech.org/robotics/
older students
54.
http://www.thetech.org/robotics/activities/ robotics high
school
55.
http://www.thetech.org/robotics/activities/fhhs_activities.html
gears - preteach
56.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/games/index.html
nasa games, sequencing, space food, dancing robots
57.
http://lemurbots.org/
music and robots
58.
http://www.mape.org.uk/startower/unit/index.htm remote
control robot
59.
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/mathline/concepts/neighborhoodmath/activity4.shtm
Older students – math
Tech Card and Commotion & alternatives
· There are actually three ways to
build the Bounce Bot – 1) multiple kit - Ultimate Robot Kit - kit and text, ISBN: 0789479451, Publisher:
DK Publishing, Inc. 2) as a single unit
kit from The Commotion Company, and 3) duplicate the kit parts once you have one in hand.
· The TechCard
construction system and models were devised by David Eckold and are protected
by patent and copyright. TechCard is manufactured and distributed by The Commotion, LTD, a leading
educational retailer and trade distributor specializing in science and
technology equipment to education.
· I have no affiliation with this
company and TechCard
· If you duplicate the kit parts it
requires a lot of measuring and shopping, but you can do it – you can also
purchase sheets of TechCard to make it easier – they are not scored or cut but
you can use a razor, cutting board, and template.
· To order a catalog
from The Commotion Group go to: http://www.techcard.co.uk/
· Order via mail or FAX and be aware of pricing at this site – it is not US
Dollars - look up currency exchange rates for the UK
decorating, racing, finishing touches,
filming and recording – what you might consider doing and ideas
·
Have
your students decorate their bots
– do not use heavy or bulky decorations or anything that will drag the bot down
or get caught in the wheels or gears
·
If
using legos, younger students will want to name their LEGO robot and explain
the ‘good things’ that their robot does
and have their picture or video presentation taped
·
Take
photos or videos of creating and racing the bots
·
Create
a maze and run the bots through it
·
Attach
a wireless web cam to the chassis based and let the robot run free
·
Create
a movie or slide show and use MovieMaker or slide show in Windows XP and
include music
SOLAR – next! - dependent on weather