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LEGO MINSTORMS Robotics PEI Teachers In-Service. Friday, July 6, 2007. Intros, Objectives, Agenda. Muriel Stirling – Spectrum Ed. Supplies Danny Silver – Acadia University Round table – name, something about yourself, personal objectives for today Review agenda. Agenda. Morning:
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LEGO MINSTORMS RoboticsPEI Teachers In-Service Friday, July 6, 2007
Intros, Objectives, Agenda Muriel Stirling – Spectrum Ed. Supplies Danny Silver – Acadia University Round table – name, something about yourself, personal objectives for today Review agenda
Agenda Morning: Intros, Objectives, Agenda Motivation for Robotics in Schools Overview of Components, Human resources, Knowledge Let’s Build a Robot * BREAK (10:40) Let’s test out the Robot RPC and FLL Competitions LUNCH (12:00-1:30) Afternoon: Intro to NXT Programming Let’s Program a Robot Integration of Robotics into Schools * BREAK (2:40) More Advanced Programming Discussion Wrap-up (4:00)
Motivation for Robotics What are your students perceptions of computer, communications, and engineering technology? Would they rather use or build it? Do they see careers? What are their interest levels? Do they feel prepared? What is hard about IT? Do they see business opportunities?
Probable majors indicated by first year university students (Source: Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles).
Portion of Bachelour’s degrees granted to women (Source: Nation Science Foundation, USA -1999 not reported)
IT Jobs are Again on the Rise CNN – Feb 23/06: 3.5 million IT jobs in US, above 2000 levels US job loss to off-shoring outpaced by growth in: Research, product design Software architecture and engineering Project management IT consulting Misconception of CS by public biggest threat
IT Jobs are Again on the Rise • 13,000 new jobs created in 2005 • [Stats Canada]
The Disconnect Job Opportunities Knowledgeable Workers
Off-Shoring: Self-fulfilling Prophecy The Prophecy – “Don’t go into technology, the work is all going off-shore. There will be no jobs.” The Truth – There is lots of work in IT in Atlantic Canada; the major companies cannot find enough qualified people The fulfillment – If there are no trained and knowledgeable workers, then companies will go elsewhere
Robotics Goals and Motivation To build interest and excitement in information technology and science To encourage kids to create hardware and software solutions To show why math is important To create builders of technology and not just users Learn how to work in teams Ensure they are having fun while learning!
Dean Kamen, Founder of FIRST Vision “To create a world where science and technology are celebrated... where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes” ZOOM Kids compete in FLL !! For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology
LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics For more information see the Lego MINDSTORMS RCX website, NXT website LEGO RCX LEGO NXT
Overview of LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT LEGO MINDSTORMS website
Overview of H/W Components Hardware components Brick – cpu, memory, power supply, charger Telecomm – USB, Bluetooth Input – 4 input ports, touch, light, sound, ultrasonic, motor, also colour, compass Output – 3 output ports, display, speaker, motor, light A nice resource found on the web
Overview of S/W Components NXT Operating System Human-Brick Interface NXT Software Development Environment LEGO MINDSTORMS Edu NXT LEGO Robotics Engineering Vol. 1 More on this later
Overview of Human Resources and Required Knowledge Human Resources and Knowledge Installation: Basic Workstation and LAN s/w installation background Resources available on web - LEGO and FLL sites Teaching: Basic human-computer interface skills Methodical approach, logical mind No prior programming skills required Programming with NXT GUI Patients; Sense of humor Training material: Included SDE tutorials LEGO Robot Engineering Vol. 1 and 2 CDs LEGO and FLL sites; numerous other forums
Let’s Build a Robot Build the Educational TriBot … Test individual components … Turn on NXT From “My Files” press right button 5 times to get “Try Me” Try the Touch, Light, Sound, Ultrasonic, Motor sensors
Complete Robot Build Build the Educational TriBot … Test individual components … Turn on NXT From “My Files” press right button 5 times to get “Try Me” Try the Touch, Light, Sound, Ultrasonic, Motor sensors
Acadia University Robot Programming Competition (RPC)FIRST LEGO League Tournament (FLL) Saturday, November 25, 2006
Intro to NXT Programming NXT Software Development Environment LEGO MINDSTORMS Edu NXT Online tutorials on the web LEGO Robotics Engineering Vol. 1 Using the NXT SDE
Intro to NXT Programming Programming 101 basics: Actions - 03. Drive Forward Loops - 08. Drive in a square Functions - 09. My block Conditional Logic 1 - 12. Detect Sound Conditional Logic 2 - 13. Sound Control
Let’s Program a Robot Challenge - program at least 3 of the following: Actions 01. Play Sound or 03. Drive Forward Loops 08. Drive in a Square Functions 09. My Block Conditional Logic 12. Detect Sound, 14. Distance, 13. Sound Control or 16. Dark Line
Integration of Robotics into Schools Muriel Stirling LEGO Educational Website http://www.legoeducation.info/nxt/
Why Robotics? Ideal tool to teach and/or enforce the learning of non-academic skills: Team work Curiosity & Creativity Basic Life Skills Builds self-esteem and confidence
Robotics and Provincial Curriculum Nunavut Re-writing their curriculum British Columbia Indirectly addressed in Tech Ed 8 – 10 Tech Ed 11 – 12: Electronics Tech Ed 11 – 12: Industrial Design Alberta A strand in the Career and Technology Studies (CTS) program in Gr 11 & 12.
Robotics and Provincial Curriculum Manitoba Robotics is not an explicit, mandated provision within the curriculum. Ontario K-8 In the proposed Grade 8 curriculum there is a strand called ‘Systems at Work’ where robotic could be used. Atlantic Provinces PEI
Robotics and the Curriculum Science (including Physic) Technology Engineering Math Computer Programming LEGO Educational Website http://www.legoeducation.info/nxt/
Robotics and the Curriculum Sarah Perkins, Computer Programming 12 at Avon View High School, Windsor, NS http://avhs.ednet.ns.ca/staff/perkins
More Advanced Programming Some of the more advanced functions Conditional Logic - 17. Follow Line Parallel Code – 10. Parking Bay Conditional Logic – 20. Hit Red Ball Challenge – program at least 2 of the above
Programming Alternatives Other Programming Env. And Languages C - RobotC for NXT Not Quite C for NXT - NXC Java – leJOS Java over Bluetooth - iCommand
Discussion Novel ideas for introduction into the your curriculum? Interested in participating in 2007 RPC/FLL? Next steps
Wrap-up Muriel, Danny, Clayton