Developing 21 st Century Skills through Robotics

1. Developing 21st CenturySkills through Robotics 72nd Annual ITEEA Conference Charlotte, North Carolina Gary Stewardson Stephen Williams Trevor Robinson

2. Automation & Control Systems21st Century Skills Consist of: • Sensors (inputs) • Drivers & Actuators (outputs) • Computer Programs (logic)

3. Examples of Automation & Control Systems in Our Daily Lives • Automobile control systems • Traffic lights (cameras) • Heating & air conditioning systems • Kitchen appliances • Cell phone apps • TiVo® • Bar code readers in stores

4. Science, Technology,Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) Influence in education through: • Course offerings • Graduation requirements • Funded research projects

5. Why STEM? • 21st Century Skills • Career Options • Technological Literacy • Economic Development

6. Standards for Technological Literacy Robotic curriculum and competitions lend themselves to meeting many of the standards for technological literacy

7. Standards for Technological Literacy Nature of Technology • 1—The Characteristics & Scope of Technology • 2—The Core Concepts of Technology (systems & controls) • 3—Relationship Among Technologies & the Connections Between Technology & Other Fields

8. Standards for Technological Literacy Technology and Society • 4—The Cultural, Social, Economic, and Political Effects of Technology • 6—The Role of Society in the Development & Use of Technology • 7—The Influence of Technology on History

9. Standards for Technological Literacy Design • 8—The Attributes of Design • 9—Engineering Design • 10—The Role of Troubleshooting, Research & Development, Invention and Innovation, and Experimentation in Problem Solving

10. Standards for Technological Literacy Abilities for a Technological World • 11—Apply Design Process • 12—Use and Maintain Technological Products and Systems • 13—Assess the Impact of Products & Systems

11. Standards for Technological Literacy The Designed World • 16—Energy & Power Technologies • 17—Information & Communication • 18—Transportation Technologies • 20—Construction Technologies

12. Standards for Technological Literacy Sixteen out of 20 standards for technological literacy are easily addressed through robotic curriculum and competitions.

13. Robotic Competitions • FIRST Robotics Competition (grades 9-12) • FIRST Tech Challenge (grades 9-12) • FIRST LEGO League (grades 4-8) • Jr. FIRST LEGO League (grades K-3) • BEST Robotics • Botball (middle & high school) • VEX (middle & high school) • TSA/VEX • Others ?

14. FIRST Vision "To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders.“ Dean Kamen Mission Our mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

15. FIRST Robotics Competition FRC combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams of 25 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors.

16. FIRST Robotics Competition Costs $5,000.00 FRC Veteran teams who participated in 2009: Participation in one 2010 Regional Event, the Kit of Parts, associated materials and support. $6,500.00 FRC Veteran teams who did not participate in 2009 & FRC 2010 Rookie teams: Will receive a $1000 grant from FIRST Founder which will be applied to registration netting payment to $5,500.00 for the 2010 season. $4,000.00 Participation in each additional 2010 Regional Event.  $5,000.00 Participation in the 2010 FIRST Championship.

17. FIRST Robotics Impacts Brandeis University Study When compared with the control group, FIRST students are: • More than 3 times as likely to major specifically in engineering. • Roughly 10 times as likely to have had an apprenticeship, internship, or co-op job in their freshman year. • Significantly more likely to expect to achieve a post graduate degree. • More than twice as likely to expect to pursue a career in science and technology. • Nearly 4 times as likely to expect to pursue a career specifically in engineering. • More than twice as likely to volunteer in their communities.

18. FIRST Tech Challenge FTC is designed for those who want to compete head-to-head, using a sports model. Teams of up to 10 students are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages.

19. FIRST LEGO League In the robot game, teams design, build, program, and test autonomous robots that must perform a series of tasks or missions. In the project, teams conduct research and create a technological or engineering solution to an aspect of the challenge and present that solution.

20. BEST Robotics Our Vision To excite our nation's students about engineering, science and technology to unlock their imagination and discover their potential Our Mission To inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, technology, and math through participation in a sports-like science- and engineering-based robotics competition

21. Botball The Botball Educational Robotics Program engages middle and high school aged students in a team-oriented robotics competition based on national science education standards. By designing, building, programming, and documenting robots, students use science, engineering, technology, math, and writing skills in a hands-on project that reinforces their learning.

22. VEX Robotic Competition The VEX Robotics Design System offers students an exciting platform for learning about areas rich with career opportunities spanning science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The VEX Robotics project encourages teamwork, leadership and problem solving among groups. The affordable VEX platform is expanding rapidly and is now found in middle schools, high schools and university labs around the globe.

23. TSA & VEX Partnership TSA/VEX Robotics tournaments will be conducted at participating State Conventions and the annual National Convention.

24. VEX Competitions • Hybrid of an design competition & a sporting event. • Seeding rounds & bracket play • Utilize alliances (cooperative learning) • Level playing field (reasonably priced) • Multiple competitions (autonomous, etc.) • Multiple events (regional, international)

25. VEX Video

26. VEX Curriculums • Autodesk's VEX® Robotics Curriculum • intelitek’s Robotics Engineering Curriculum • Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy • 2008 VEX Inventor’s Guide • VEX Classroom Competition Teacher’s Handbook: “A Guide for STEM Success” • Design Academy’s Curriculum

27. 2008 VEX Inventor’s Guide Content Areas: • Structure • Motion • Power • Sensors • Control • Logic • Programming

28. Design Academy’s Curriculum Public School’s Constraints: • After school club • Single class during the day Student Constraints: • Busy schedules • Many extra-curricular options Both result in: • Students at multiple levels • Open entry/open exit structure

29. Design Academy’s CurriculumScope & Sequence

30. Design Academy’s CurriculumDriver/Operator Objectives: • Maintain VEX rechargeable power pack • Build Tumbler • Operate the tumbler using transmitter and jumper • Program VEX controller to operate tumbler in arcade, tank (stick), & tank (button) modes

31. Design Academy’s CurriculumBuilder I & II Objectives: • Construct truss tower • Construct boom crane • Build drift chassis • Build conveyor feeder • Construct scissor lift • Build pneumatic gripper

32. Design Academy’s CurriculumProgrammer I & II Objectives: • Program a limit & bumper switch • Program an optical shaft encoder • Program a potentiometer • Program a light sensor • Program a line follower • Program an ultra-sonic range sensor • Program three autonomous missions using multiple sensors

33. Design Academy’s CurriculumDesigner Objectives: • Design a robot to compete an autonomous challenge • Lead the development and delivery of a team presentation • Compete on a VEX team for one season NOTE: To achieve designer status, one must complete skill sets Driver/Operator, Builder I, Programmer I, and Builder II and/or Programmer II.

34. Design Academy’s CurriculumTeam Leader Objectives: • Manage a team fundraiser • Develop a Gantt chart for competitive team • Lead a competitive VEX team for one season

35. Design Academy’s CurriculumLesson Components • Terminal, performance, and enabling objectives • Learning activities including PowerPoint presentations, related activity sheets, and design briefs • Formative and summative assessments

36. Design Academy’s CurriculumObjectives Skill Set: Driver/Operator Terminal Objective 1: maintain VEX rechargeable power packs Performance Objective: Given a VEX robotics system maintain VEX rechargeable power packs so the system functions as required. Enabling Objectives: 1.1 identify 7.2 V and 9.6 V power packs 1.2 test power pack voltage using a multimeter 1.3 explain how to charge the 7.2 V power pack versus the 9.6 V power pack 1.4 set-up the battery charger 1.5 identify the charging sequence when charging two power packs 1.6 describe the relationship between the status lights on the charger and the condition of the power pack(s) being charged

37. Resources • Local 4-H extension office • Summer Workshops at USU • www.robotevents.com • www.vexrobotics.com • www.usfirst.org • Best.eng.auburn.edu • www.botball.org • www.etcurr.com

38. Questions?