Strand: Knowledge & Understanding and Processes & Production Skills
Sub-strand: Digital Systems, Investigating and Defining, Evaluating
Possible Curriculum Links:
Digital systems have components with basic functions and interactions that may be connected together to form networks which transmit different types of data (ACTDIK014)
Define a problem, and a set of sequenced steps, with users making decisions to create a solution for a given task
Develop collaborative criteria to evaluate and justify design processes and solutions
Link to the Resource:
https://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms
Cross curriculum priorities and general capabilities:
Critical and creative thinking
Personal and social capability
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Numeracy
Cross-curriculum links:
Mathematics
What is it:
Lego Mindstorms EV3 is a system that allows students to build, program and command which are easy and fun to used. The package comes with bricks, motors and sensors to create one of 17 types of robots that can shoot, drive, slam, crash and spin with control from a range of devices including smart phones and tablets. Students can also further program the robots with on computer coding program for more features. The robot can be deconstructed and formed into any of the other 16 models for more missions and actions.
https://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/about-ev3
How to use it in the Classroom:
one example of how Lego Midstorms EV3 can be used in the classrooms is the students programming a robots to respond to the sense of touch through lights, sounds, colour and movement. the robot can be displayed in a public area, for example the front office or staff area, with a sign next to it “Do Not Touch”. The robot recorded data every time it was touched within a space of an hour. the students can then graph and analyse this raw data to investigate trends as well as self-control of adults.
Purpose: “To construct a robotic-like hand and to demonstrate how data are collected when using robotic technology.”
Overview:This exciting and engaging hands-on activity can be done in the classroom with minimal low-cost materials required. Students critically reflect as they consider uses, benefits and disadvantages to robotics both before and after construction. Links to other learning areas include Mathematics (measurement) Science (forces) and English (journal entries).
Learning Area: Technologies – Design and Technologies Strand: Knowledge and Understanding Sub-strand: Technologies and society – Role of people in design and technologies occupations. Ways products, services and environments are designed to meet community needs. Sub-strand: Materials and technologies specialisations – Suitability and safe practice when using materials, systems and components for a range of purposes.
Learning Areas: Technologies – Design and Technologies and Digital Technologies Strand: Processes and production skills. Creating solutions by: Sub-strand: Designing – Develop and communicate design ideas and decisions using annotated drawings and appropriate technical terms. Sub-strand: Evaluating – Use criteria to evaluate and justify simple design processes and solutions. Sub-strand: Collaborating and managing – Work independently, or collaboratively when required, to plan, safely create and communicate ideas and information for solutions.
A full PDF version of the activity can be found here.
You can show your students how the NASA Robonaut2 uses its robotic hand in this video clip.
References:
Learning Area Strands: http://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home/p-10-curriculum/curriculum-browser/technologies/design-and-technologies2
Cross curriculum priorities and general capabilities
Critical and creative thinking (CCT),Personal and social capability (PSC),Information and Communication Technology (ICT),Literacy (LIT)
Links to other learning areas
English, Mathematics
A classroom activity using this resource
This game can be a fun way to introduce students to programming and coding as well as a great way for students to practice their programming abilities.
This game has many levels that can meet many abilities from just starting to learn coding to students who have a broad knowledge of coding.
How to use this resource
Robozzle tasks you with guiding a robot through a series of mazes using limited commands. The levels range from those suitable for younger children right up to puzzles that will make seasoned coders scratch their heads.
Your task is to program a robot to pick up all the stars on each level.
You only have three commandments: Go straight, turn left and turn right.
You will program the robot by putting you commands in the program slot.
As you play you can start to use different programming including loops, combining commands and using colours to help code.
Processes and Production Skills (Digital Implementation, Investigating and Defining, Producing and Implementing, Evaluating, Collaborating and Managing)
Link to the resource:
http://meetedison.com/ Contains links to lesson plans aligned with the Australian Curriculum, free software and activity downloads all created under the Creative Commons license.
Scitech (WA) run professional learning sessions for teachers on how to use Edison in the classroom
Literacy, Numeracy, Critical and Creative Thinking, ICT Capability, Ethical Understanding
Other Learning Areas:
Science, Mathematics, English (particularly Oral Language)
What can Edison do?:
Edison is programmed using EdWare, a drag and drop graphical programming language that is easy to learn. EdWare is free and open source and works on Windows, Mac and Linux computers.
Edison has simple pre-programmed features. Simply print out some barcodes (free on the website meetedison.com) and drive it across them to activate a range of pre-programmed functions, such as line following, obstacle avoidance and learning standard TV/DVD remote control commands.
Edison is Lego compatible so the only limit is your students’ imagination
Edison can navigate his way around using infrared light sensors to see obstacles to its left or right.
Students can program Edison to learn commands from just about any remote control and can drive forward, backward, turn left, turn right, spin left and spin right.
Edison can be programmed to follow a line or stay within a border using its line tracking sensor.
It can also sense light, communicate with other Edison robots, play sounds and respond to sounds e.g. clapping
Classroom Activities:
There is a series of 10 (Australian Curriculum linked) lessons available on the website. Obviously these assume children have access to an Edison robot. A class set would be ideal however a teacher could use just one as an extension or station activity.
Activities include:
Technology skills – Students familiarise themselves with the programming environment and how to download a program to the robot.
Introduction to sequential programming – Students learn how the robot responds to command icons and bring together the concepts of time, speed and distance.
Sequential programming and basic geometry – Students learn how the robot responds to time and geometry and how they can achieve driving control of the robot.
Reinforce learning – Students use knowledge from lessons 1 through 3 to achieve two fun open ended activities (Driving challenge and Mexican Wave)
Creative thinking and problem solving – Students come up with their own challenge and conceptualise how the robot can provide a solution. Students may select their own topic, state the program’s purpose and explain where it could be used in the real world.
Introduction to inputs (sensors) – Students learn how to make the robot respond to outside stimulus (claps).
Introduction to the concept of obstacle detection and artificial intelligence – Students program the robot to make decisions (artificial intelligence) in response to obstacles in the robot’s environment.
Industrial like robotic behaviour – Students learn about basic robot sensing and control similar to that used in advanced automated factories and warehouses.
Environmental measurement and programming mathematics – Students learn about measuring light levels, storing them in memory and performing mathematics to control the robots behaviour.
This game allows students to create robots from a variety of parts.
This activity would be used as part of a broader learning experience.
Students can just drag and drop pieces they want to use into the work space and create their robot. The robots can be saved or printed out, which could lead into other activities. The students could print off their robot and then be tasked with building it as a 3-D model using everyday items.
