RET Teaching Module

Timothy WalshPercy Julian Middle School

Oak Park, Illinois

Objective:

Develop an After-School Robotics Club at the two middle schools in Oak Park.

Objectives

Students will team with professional scientists to solve engineering design problems in an intense and competitive way.

Explicit ObjectivesStudents of the Robotics teams will:

Design and build a remote controlled robot using Radio Shack’s Vex Design System kits.Write a computer program that governs the operation of the robot.Compete against other student teams in the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition at UIC in March.

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Implicit ObjectivesStudents will:

Discover the excitement and rewards of science, technology and engineering.

Experience a real world application of

scientific and mathematical concepts Engage in hands-on problem solving Work with professional engineers and

other professionals in the fields of math and science.

Build teamwork skills Enhance self-esteem and confidence.

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Alignment with Illinois State Learning Goals:

Alignment with Illinois State Learning Goals: 11.B.3a Identify an actual design problem and establish criteria for determining the success of a solution.11.B.3b Sketch, propose and compare design solutions to the problem considering available materials, tools, cost

effectiveness and safety.11.B.3c Select the most appropriate design and build a prototype or simulation.11.B.3d Test the prototype using available materials, instruments and technology and record the data.11.B.3e Evaluate the test results based on established criteria, note sources of error and recommend

improvements.11.B.3f Using available technology, report the relative success of the design based on the test results and criteria.

Methodology

The teams will meet once a week to design, build, refine and program their robots.

Each team will consist of about 8-12 seventh and eighth grade students

The role of the adult advisor will be to facilitate and encourage the team while not becoming overly involved in the actual design and building.

Expected Learning Outcome

During the first year, teams will: Build a basic robot and

experiment with design modification

Compete publicly against each other

Attend the regional FIRST Robotics Competition at the UIC Pavilion: Thursday, March 16, 2006 through Saturday, March 18, 2006.

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Curriculum Sample1. Connect a regular motor and operate it with a slider control on

the computer.  What do the various values mean?

2. What value is needed to turn a servo motor 1/8 turn clockwise?  1/8 turn counter-clockwise.

3. If you connect a bumper switch to a digital input, what is the value of that input when the switch is pushed in? when not pushed in?

4. Write a program that causes a regular motor to turn clockwise while a bumper switch is pushed in and to stop when the switch is not pushed in.

5. Bonus challenge:  Write a program that would cause a robot to back up, turn right, then continue forward each time a bumper switch is pushed in.

For further background information on Vex Robotics and FIRST see:

http://www.vexrobotics.com

http://www.usfirst.org/Vex/index.html