Robotics Kits Across the Curriculum: Integrating STEM in Middle and High School Courses.

Robotics Kits Across the Curriculum: Integrating STEM in Middle and High School Courses. Elizabeth Perry, Ph.D. Theresa Richards, Ph.D. Pittsburgh's only age 3 – grade 12 independent girls’ day school

Workshop Outline • Educational Robotics for the Classroom • Hands-on using robotics kits • Integration of robotics at your school Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Progress! Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Progress? • Women earning college degrees: • Engineering -- No Change • Computer Science -- Down by 1/3 Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Building Robots - Building Futures • Educational Robotics for the Classroom • Integrating Robotics at these schools The Ellis School St. Louise de Marillac Parish School Allegheny Valley School District Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Our Background Work with an all girls FIRST Robotics team that is mentored by the Field Robotics Center at CMU Science Teacher Technology Integration Specialist at Ellis Computer Science Teacher Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Robotics Learning Curve: • Attended all the robotics team meetings last year • Facilitated an introductory robotics mini course at Ellis with a CMU Robotics Institute professor • Reintroduced to programming • Summer workshop JAVA for Math and Science Teachers • Enrolled in Educational Robotics for the Classroom • Learned about teaching my curriculum using robotics technology Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Robotics Results “The mini course was definitely more fun, because in my other programming classes, I would just write code and not do much with it, but in the mini course I was programming an actual ROBOT!” Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Integration of Robotics in a Human Anatomy and Physiology Class at The Ellis School A Modeling Muscles Lab is a part of the current curriculum in Human Anatomy and Physiology • Students create models of skeletal muscles using nylons (very stretchy) stuffed with various soft materials • Attach muscles to the classroom skeleton at appropriate markings • Act out the actions of the muscles- flex, extend, adduct, etc. Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

The Old Way Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

The New Way Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Creating the model of the arm Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Making the muscles Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Putting it together : The Robotic Arm Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Robotic Results Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Arm Lab Survey ResultsDescribe the ways the Robot Diaries Arm Lab affected your learning of how the muscles and bones function together. “I learned that when we are moving the arm, there are not one but many muscles and bones working together in order to perform a certain movement that our brain manages.”“The Robot Diaries Arm Lab allowed me a hands on experience to better illustrate my understanding of how all of the muscles and bones function together in the arm. By actually building the robotic arm and piecing together the bones and muscles I was able to understand the different angles and roles of each respective piece.”“I learned where the muscles go in respect to the arm bones.” Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Arm Lab Survey ResultsDescribe the ways you have used technology in your education at Ellis. I use my computer a lot. I also built a robotic arm. I have used computers and laptops most often, but I have also worked with digital programming in art classes and, most recently, elements of robotics during this project. I use laptops, and I used robots in anatomy. We learned how the muscles and bones function in the motion. We made a model of our arms with motors and hummingbirds and other robotics parts to simulate how they actually work. Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Robotics Integration at Other Schools • At the St. Louise de Marillac Parish school in PA • the Gorgon coin was a collaboration of the Latin club and the student Tech Team. Students ranged from grades 5 - 8. • Teacher Zee Ann Poerio said: “We have an ancient coin museum exhibit and our Latin Club members serve as docents each year. We wanted to have a coin that visitors could interact with as part of the exhibit.” Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Middle School Latin Club Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Robotics Integration at Other Schools At the Allegheny Valley School District in PA Gifted Support coordinator, Susan Mellon, created a Robot Diaries activity to use as a great culminating project for a poetry unit. Ms. Mellon’s curriculum is available at http://educationalrobotics.posterous.com/?secret=BrbJkGiwtemEqJbydkGFhevsuIzIwI. Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Middle School Poetry Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Resources http://robotdiaries.posterous.com/?secret=GcAtthDgBuBduGhanbzIaBolclarDC • Link to March course description (also a handout) • Zee’s and Sue’s videos http://www.birdbraintechnologies.com/content/products • For hummingbird and Arts and Bots/Robot Diaries Kits http://paa2011.princeton.edu/download.aspx?submissionId=111625(stats) http://educationalrobotics.posterous.com/?secret=BrbJkGiwtemEqJbydkGFhevsuIzIwI • Educational Robotics for the Classroom web site. Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Introductory Workshop for Teachers Interested in learning about Arts & Bots (formerly Robot Diaries) first hand? Join us for a short introductory workshop this March. Learn about the newest Hummingbird hardware (due to be released early 2012) and visual programming software as well as ideas for using Arts & Bots in your classroom. No robotics experience necessary. What:Arts & Bots Introductory Workshop When:March 7, 20125 pm - 9 pm Where:Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA 15213 Contact:Jenn Cross, jenncross99@gmail.com Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Robotics Kits Across the Curriculum: Integrating STEM in Middle and High School Courses.