Scientific ResearchA Vehicle for a

Tennessee High School Robotics Class

Created by:Frank WoodScience ChairL&N STEM Academyfrank.wood@knoxschools.org

Introduction

“Our nation’s economic future depends upon improving the pipeline into the STEM fields…,” in a report written for the Department of Labor.9

• Robotics is an exciting avenue to generate student interest in STEM occupations.

• The “Scientific Research” standards7 will be utilized to create a compliant research course that focuses on robotics.

Course Sequence

• Unit 1 – Research Methodology• Unit 2 – Collaboration Methods• Unit 3 – Ethics are Essential• Unit 4 – Safety is a Requirement• Unit 5 – Research Proposal• Unit 6 – Project Construction• Unit 7 – Research Report

Unit 1 – Research MethodologyStandards: CLE 3295.T/E.2, CLE 3295.3.37

• The Stanford dSchool Design15 process is explained and utilized.

• Example research projects are examined by student teams and suggested procedures are shared via whiteboard.

• The specific statistical methods required are detailed.

"Fail fast, succeed sooner" David Kelley founder of Stanford d.school

Unit 2 – Collaboration MethodStandard: CLE 3295.T/E.37

• Students are taught to use SketchUp8 (a 3d drawing tool) to share design ideas.

• Students are taught the rules of collaboration

Unit 3 – Ethics are Essential Standards: CLE 3295.T/E.1, CLE 3295.1.47

• Students learn an object lesson in ethics while viewing “The Dark Secret of Hendrik Schön ”2 and completing a companion worksheet.

• Students teams read and summarize the central ideas of the “Code of Ethics for Engineers”13 using white boards.

• A teacher-led discussion follows this activity.

Unit 4 – Safety is a RequirementStandards: CLE 3295.1.57

• First Robotics has developed a detailed safety manual.3 Students teams read the safety manual and compete in an instructor led game of safety scenarios.

• Each team completes a safety checklist for the robotics lab.

• Students have the option to complete the 2013 FRC Safety Video4 contest for extra credit.

Unit 5 – Research Proposal Standards: CLE 3295.2.2, CLE 3295.T/E.4, CLE 3295.2.3, CLE 3295.2.4, CLE 3295.3.1, CLE 3295.3.47

Students develop a research proposal that includes:• A working hypothesis.• An affirmation to follow safety

protocol• Technological/non-technological

tools utilized• Limitations of this research• Impact of this research• The project timetable.

Unit 6 – Project ConstructionStandards: CLE 3295.3.2, CLE 3295.4.1,CLE 3295.1.2, CLE 3295.1.1, CLE 3295.1.3,CLE 3295.4.2, CLE 3295.4.37

Weekly Progress meetings will be scored using a rubric to include:• Deviations from proposal.• Statistical methods used.• Further questions for study.• Safety issues encountered or expected. • Recording and storing of data.• Demonstrated understanding of the

project.

Unit 7 – Research ReportStandards: CLE 3295.3.2, CLE 3295.4.1,CLE 3295.1.2, CLE 3295.1.1, CLE 3295.1.3,CLE 3295.4.2, CLE 3295.4.37

• Student research projects will produce tangible results; a part, program, or sub-system.

• Students deliver a PowerPoint presentation to their piers that covers the scope of their project. The format of this report will be consistent with the requirements of the English curriculum.

Conclusions• Existing student involvement in First

Robotics is a clear indicator of the potential success of this program.

• It combines the sense of accomplishment received when an individual accomplishes a goal, with the pedagogical imperative to unite existing studies with tangible results.

• The completed Syllabus

Bibliography Page 11. Autodesk (2012). Inventor - 2D CAD Software. Autodesk Inventor Products. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http://usa.autodesk.com/autodesk- inventor/2. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Web site 1 (2004). The dark secret of Hendrik Schön—transcript. Broadcast: 5 February 2004. Transcript available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2004/hendrikshontrans.shtml (URL accessed 07/12/2010).3. First Robotics (2012). First Robotics Competition Team Safety Manual.

(2012nd ed.). Manchester, New Hampshire/United States: FRC. 4. First Robotics (2012, July 12). About Us. First. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from

http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/vision5. Google (2012, January 23). SketchUp Getting Started Guide. Google. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from

http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/answer.py? hl=en&answer=362136. HR Policy Association (2011). Blueprint For Jobs In The 21st Century. Washington, DC/United States: HR Policy Association.

Bibliography Page 27. State of Tennessee (2008, January). SCI_3295. Curriculum Standards - TN

Department of Education. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from

http://www.state.tn.us/education/ci/sci/index.shtml

8. Trimble (2012, April 26). Trimble Sketchup. Trimble Sketchup. Retrieved July

12, 2012, from http://sketchup.google.com/

9. Jobs for the Future (2007, April). The STEM Workforce Challenge:the Role of the Public Workforce System in a National Solution for a Competitive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce. doleta.gov. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http://www.doleta.gov/ youth_services/pdf/STEM_Report_4%2007.pdf10. LittleMachineShop.com (n.d.). Using a Caliper. LittleMachineShop.com. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http://www.littlemachineshop.com/ Reference/reference.php11. McComb, G. (2011). Robot Builder's Bonanza. (4th ed.). New York, United States: McGraw-Hill/ TAB.12. MathWorks (2012). MathWorks - MATLAB and Simulink for Technical Computing. MathWorks. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http:// www.mathworks.com 

Bibliography Page 3

13. National Society of Professional Engineers (2007). Code of Ethics for

Engineers. (2007th ed.). Alexandria, Virginia/United States:

National Society of Professional Engineers.

14. President Barack Obama, State of the Union Address (Jan. 25, 2011), available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/25/

remarks-president- state-union-address.15. Stanford University (2012). Our Point of View. d.school: Institute of Design at Stanford. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http:// dschool.stanford.edu/our-point-of-view/