• Spring 2005 Upper Canada District School Board Initiative

• 5 Lego Mindstorm Team Challenge Sets

• Small groups of 3 per kit for 4 afternoons to experiment

with first year teacher (it was a learning experience)

• 2005-2006 Nationview integrated Robotics as part of its

Design & Tech program for all grade 7 & 8 students

Robo-world Rules

• Respect x 3 (Equipment, Students, Teacher)

• Keep Equipment Organized

• Work Co-operatively

• Participate in All Activities

• Be Creative

Roboworld Procedures1.Wait outside room quietly until room opened.2.Enter room and take seat at assigned computer.3.Wait for instructions then gather necessary resources (kits, duo-tangs) at your assigned table.4.Chairs are pushed at computers in during building phase.5.Never mix pieces between kits.6.All building takes place at the table & inside of the building box.7.All kits must be sorted and inspected at end of class.8.Do a visual sweep of the floor around your table for rogue Lego pieces.9. All computers are shut down.10. All chairs are pushed in.

• Sort

• Inventory

• Inspect

• Build Times

• Organization

• Responsibility

1. Keep the same kits with the same groups to improve accountability.

2. Pairs of students work best for activities, groups of 4 work best for planning.

3. Make sure building instructions are clear and easy to read (bad photocopies are bad).

4. Teach the basics before allowing students the chance to “free build” – it’s harder than it looks.

5. You (the teacher) have to “play” too.

Break big problems into small problems.

Grouping steps/instructions.

Debugging/Testing Solutions

Criteria for Best Solution

MATHFractions, Data Collection, Graphing, Number Sense

SCIENCEMechanical Efficiency, Optics, Structures, Forces

MUSICPiano Player

LEARNING SKILLSProblems Solving, Collaborative Work

• Start with Pilot Levels 1, 2, 3, 4• Introduce idea of “steps” in programming• Students learn of icons and variables• Linear and logical flow of actions• It only does what we design and tell it to do

• Provide reference posters• Students’ “Big Book of Robotic Knowledge”• Put knowledge in students’ hands

The Gripper Challenge

Count the DotsChallenge

If you need help setting up or you have an idea to share – please contact me @

robert.brooks@ucdsb.on.ca

Annual Robotics Challenge June 1Annual Robotics Challenge June 1stst at at North Grenville High SchoolNorth Grenville High School

Anne WalkerAnne Walker

A Great Experience for All Students!A Great Experience for All Students!