EV3 Elementary Robotics 

John Heffernan10/8/2016

Introduction

Elementary and Middle School Engineering Education with a focus on EV3 robotics open ended challenges

Some background, research, and rationale

Open ended activities try outs

Wrap-Up

Tap creative play

Are we tapping into the so important creative play of children in school, especially the kind associated with building?

Tap creative play

• It’smorefuntoactuallybebuildingsomething.Ifyoutookaclassinrobotsandjustlearnedaboutthings,iftheteacherjustdrilledinformationintoyourhead,itwouldnotbeasfunasbuildingandexperiencingittolearn.

• Grade6Girl2

Tap creative play

Who is tapping into creative play? Are we?

Lego Robots directly tap into the creative play urge of children in a healthy and educational way. A PK-6 robotics curriculum (such as Elementary Engineering Curriculum) is needed to support and sustain the natural engineering instincts of young children until formal engineering

WHY ROBOTS?

Engineering can be taught in many ways, why Lego Robots?

Familiar, fun, fantasy

They can be programmed, adds “life”

Tech component built in

Math, science, ELA as well

Courtesy - Dr Merridith Portsmore, Tufts CEEO

Grappling

Grappling 2

Engineering Design

Year 1 Clever Solution

Open Ended Challenges

Depth of Learning

Motivating

Fun

Itwashardsoitmadeusjumpupanddownwhenit=inallyworked.Grade5GirlsTeam1

How is it different?

•[It’s]Absolutely![differentfromotherschoolwork.]It’smoreinteractivebecausemostlywhatwearedoinginschoolispaperwork.Withthisyougettoexperiment,insteadofjustdoingsomething,likemath,yougotaquestion,you=igureitout.Withthisyoucan,changeitup,experiment.Grade6Boy1

•It’sfunanddifferentinadifferentway.Ijustthinkitismorefun.Thewayyouthink-easierissomeways,harderinsomeways.Thewayyouthinkismorefuntothinkthatwaythantheotherway.Grade4BoyTeam2

More Quotes

• Ididn’tthinkyouwoulduseallthatmathandsciencetobuildthatrobot.Grade6Girl2

• It’smorefun[thanusualschoolwork.]It’salotdifferent–sometimesmathematical.Youhavetothinkinadifferentway.Thiswouldmakethis,wouldmakethis,happen.Eachstepisconnected.Grade4BoyTeam

What did you like about robotics?

• Whatdidyoulikeaboutrobotics?

• 24Mentionedtheprojectasfun• 15Gottobuild/handson• 8Differentthanotherschoolwork/special/exciting• 7Likedtheprogrammingeventhoughitwashard• 5Cool• 4Itwassatisfying/excitinggettingthingstowork• 2Likedthetrialanderror• 2Hadtolearntocompromise,worktogether• 2Gottomovearound,notstayinseat

RESEARCH - Interview results

Student very aware of how they are being taught

Prefer hands on activities and believe they learn better that way

Sharing Out

Teacher Interview

Student Interview

NGSS Practices

1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering).

2. Developing and using models.3. Planning and carrying out investigations.4. Analyzing and interpreting data. 5. Using mathematics and computational thinking.6. Constructing explanations (for science) and designing

solutions (for engineering). 7. Engaging in argument from evidence.8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.

MA ETS G3 Standards

• 3.3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem that reflects a need or a want. Include criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost that a potential solution must meet.

• 3.3-5-ETS1-2. Generate several possible solutions to a given design problem. Compare each solution based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the design problem.

• 3.3-5-ETS1-4(MA). Gather information using various informational resources on possible solutions to a design problem. Present different representations of a design solution.

MA ETS G4 Standards

• 4.3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out tests of one or more design features of a given model or prototype in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify which features need to be improved. Apply the results of tests to redesign a model or prototype.

• 4.3-5-ETS1-5(MA). Evaluate relevant design features that must be considered in building a model or prototype of a solution to a given design problem.

MA ETS G5 Standards

• 5.3-5-ETS3-1(MA). Use informational text to provide examples of improvements to existing technologies (innovations) and the development of new technologies (inventions). Recognize that technology is any modification of the natural or designed world done to fulfill human needs or wants.

• 5.3-5-ETS3-2(MA). Use sketches or drawings to show how each part of a product or device relates to other parts in the product or device.

Dragster Challenge

Withyourpartner,design,build,andtestarobotdragstercarthatgoesasfastaspossible.Itdoesnothavetoturnorsteer.

Usethechecklistbelowtoguideyourproject.

_____Thinkof3ideasforarobot.

IDEA1IDEA2IDEA3_____Lookatyourpartsandmakesureyoucanbuildoneoftheideas.Circletheideayouchose.

_____Buildandprogramaprototype.

_____Redesignasneeded.Whatproblemsdidyousolve?Usebackofsheet.

_____Measureyourrobot’sfastesttimeandrecordit.

Challenge:buildtheslowestcaryoupossiblycan.

Reflection

What STEM learning did you experience? 21st Century Skills? NGSS practices? MA ETS standards?

Other Challenges To Try • Line dancing

• Sumo Bots

• Line follower (delivery system)

• Escape artist

• Incline challenge

• Color sorter

• Dr. E’s Challenges

• Ball thrower

• Trick or treat

• RoboPet

• Silly Walks

Other LEGO Extensions

• Design Engineering

• Space Challenges

Knowledge and Skills

Reflection

What STEM learning did you experience? 21st Century learning?

How did this differ from the more structured activity?

How did you experience the engineering design process?

Final Thoughts?

• What is the most important tip you learned?

• What will be a challenge for you?

• How will this program benefit your students?

• What open-ended challenges will you use?

jheffernan@verizon.net

http://www.kidsengineer.com/

https://mindstorms.dreschallenges.com

Resources

Materials List

• Handouts - slides X

• 3 Books (my book, 2 Mindstorms books)

• EV3 Constructopedia (PDF and hardcopy)

• Activity sheets for dragster challenge (PDF and hardcopy)

• Laptop and dongle and power cord X

• Evaluation X (hardcopy)

• Sign In Sheet X (hardcopy)

• EMAIL HANDOUTS TO MICHAEL