Robotics

One Year 5/6 teacher identified the following as what was learnt from Lee Harrison's introductory workshops on using the Lego Mindstorms robotic kits:
 * How to use robots for more than just programming eg. measuring, as an introduction to technology
 * How to define the term robot, with examples and counter-examples (non-robots)
 * Some strategies to get the students problem solving in the first few lessons
 * Strategies to keep the students problem solving by trial and error and calculation

Another teacher's story... //Last term I borrowed the robotics kits and used them with my Year 5/6 class. Some of the students from this unit took part in a workshop at CDU so they already had some understanding of how the robots worked while others had no idea. I teamed the students who attended the workshop up with students who did not go. As a class we went over the basic operations of the robots and then I set the a range of challenges for the students to solve in small groups. The challenges started out quite simple and became harder and more complex. I assessed students on their ability to share and work together in small groups and on their problem solving skills. After completing the set challenges I allowed interested students to set a challenge for the class. This was a big hit! Later this term I will be using the robots again, this time with younger classes in the school. I have found these small devices to be amazing tools for bringing students together, 100% class participation and seeing the happy faces of successful problem solvers.//


 * Robotic programming challenges** [[file:Robotics Challenges.doc]]

Thank you for the experience


 * Robot Task Cards**, suitable for a range of ages. [[file:Robot Challenge Tasks.doc]]

Files from Lee Harrison, a consultant who runs [|Mobile Science Education], Mobile: 0430-588 757, Phone: 08-8395 9586, Email: info@mobilescienceeducation.com.au

Introductory resources to 'set the scene' with your students: Download these files and upload to your robots. Students can 'reverse engineer' the programming to learn more about what they can control.
 * Robots for Education||[[file:Robotics for Education 1.pdf]]||[[file:Robotics for Education 1.doc]]||
 * Robotics Notes||[[file:Robotics Notes.pdf]]||[[file:Robotics Notes.doc]]||


 * Guard Dog [[file:guard_dog.rbt]]||Line Tracker No. 1 [[file:linetracker1.rbt]]|| Line Tracker No. 2 [[file:linetracker2.rbt]]||
 * Line Tracker No. 3[[file:linetracker3.rbt]]||Program 3 [[file:Program_3.rbt]]||Program 4 [[file:Program_4.rbt]]||
 * Program 5 [[file:Program_5.rbt]]||Program 6 [[file:Program_6.rbt]]|| Program 7 [[file:Program_7.rbt]]||
 * Program 8 [[file:Program_8.rbt]]||Program 9 [[file:Program_9.rbt]]|SA1 [[file:SA1.rbt]]|SA2 [[file:SA2.rbt]]||

Few movie clips available from this blog. Also some cautionary tales for Mac OSX users when uninstalling Lego's Mindstorm software...essential reading really.
 * [|Blog] about Lego Mindstorms NXT robotic kits**

Northern Territory teachers have developed the following documents and unit plans:

Purchasing A few places to check out are:

1.	Bricks to the World http://www.bttw.com.au On searching their website, no item comes up for the Lego Mindstorms NXT robotics kits. They do sell the kits though. Bricks to the World 29 King Street Maffra VIC 3860 Australia Mobile 0419 480 313

2.	http://www.bricknet.com.au/ $380 + freight http://www.bricknet.com.au/products/LEGO/Mindstorms/Mindstorms%20NXT/2221

3.	Dick Smith Electronics http://www.dse.com.au $378 + freight http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/48aa1f8c0d767bd82740c0a87f9c076e/Product/View/K1487

4.	eBay Australia $365 + $25 http://cgi.ebay.com.au/LEGO-TECHNIC-MINDSTORMS-NXT-8527-NEW_W0QQitemZ190243399079QQihZ009QQcategoryZ124243QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

5.	Amazon USA US$249 +  freight http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-4494799-Mindstorms-NXT/dp/B000E4FDAE/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1219108698&sr=8-1

6.	eBay USA US$225 + US$68 freight eg. http://cgi.ebay.com/LEGO-8527-MINDSTORMS-NXT-ROBOT-BRAND-NEW-SEALED_W0QQitemZ290252874175QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item290252874175&_trkparms=72%3A552%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Lego Mindstorms NXT projects [|here]

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