Lego Robotics to teach Team Building Skills

Lego Robotics to teach Lego Robotics to teach Team Building SkillsTeam Building Skills

Lego Robotics to teach Lego Robotics to teach Team Building SkillsTeam Building Skills

Carlotta Eaton, NRCCCarlotta Eaton, NRCCShawn Lupoli, NRCC & RUShawn Lupoli, NRCC & RU

Alicia Gutschow, BRCCAlicia Gutschow, BRCC

New Horizons - April 2006

Eaton, Lupoli, Gutschow 2

Session Description

• NRCC & BRCC have incorporated team-based interactive activities

• Utilize Lego Mindstorm Robotics• Retention booster• Team building experience• Course drop out rates from 50%

down to 10%



Agenda

• Who? Carlotta, Shawn & Alicia• What? What are the problems in

an introductory CS class?• Why? Why use Lego Mindstorms?• How? How do I start with Legos?• Results? Teamwork, Retention



Who?

• Carlotta Eaton, CS & IT at NRCC• Shawn Lupoli, IT at NRCC & CS at

RU• Alicia Gutschow, IT at BRCC

Alicia pioneered Legos at BRCC

New Horizons - 4/06

Creamer, Coveny, Eaton 5

Partially Funded by …

• NSF Grant #0402567 VCCS Creating Pathways II for IT Professionals

• VCCS Professional Grant



What are the problems?

• Intro to CS or programming class

• 50% dropout rate• Area high school dropped

all programming classes because no matching SOL



Why use Mindstorms?

See http://mindstorms.lego.com/?domainredir=www.mindstorms.com



Why use Mindstorms?

• Makes programming less abstract

• Students can see a decision or a loop

• Students work in teams



How do I start?

• Lego Products • Mindstorm software• Computers• Table or Floor Space• Lots of Batteries



How do I Start?Mindstorms Software

• Site License Agreement

• RoboLab software



How do I Start?Computers

Computer built from Legos



How do I start?RCX Programmable Lego

Brick

• Serves as the brain of the Lego Mindstorms sets.



How do I start?Infrared Transmitter with USB Cable

• Connects to the computer

• Establishes wireless link between RCX brick and computer



How do I start?Technology Resource Set

• Technically oriented brick set

• Good supplement to Mindstorms sets

• 1110 pieces



How do I Start?All in one Set

Robo Technology Setwith USB Transmitter

• Get basics in a set• RCX brick• USB transmitter• Picture book• Sensors, motors• Lego Bricks



CSC 200 Lego Labs

• NRCC class• Labs created by

Shawn Lupoli• Labs demonstrate CS

programming concepts

• Seewww.nr.edu/csc200



Results

• CSC 200 dropout rate declined from 50% to 10%• Students work together in teams • Students form friendships and support group• Students take CSC 200 prior to a programming

language such as VB or Java• Also reduced dropout rate in follow-on

programming classes such as VB or Java



Resourceswww.lego.com/education/



• CSC 200 at NRCCwww.nr.edu/csc200/labs/lab3-lego-start.html

• Tufts University www.ceeo.tufts.edu/

• National Instrumentswww.ni.com/company/robolab.htm

• First Lego Leaguewww.usfirst.org/jrobtcs/flego.htm

More Resources



Mindstorms Support

• LEGO Education will continue to support the existing platform until the end of 2009

• Mindstorms NXT - Next generation will launch August 2006

• See http://www.lego.com/



Support: Teacher Guides

• Teacher guides available for elementary & middle school students



Support: Online Activity Bank

• Web Site for K-12 Activities• http://www1.lego.com/education/presch

ool/default.asp?l2id=1_2&pagename=sub_ab_1&locale=2057



Summary

• Utilize Lego Mindstorm Robotics• Team building experience• Interactive activities• Retention booster• Course drop out rates declined from

50% down to 10%• Follow-on programming classes drop

out rate very low



Alicia Gutschow Assistant Professor of IT & CSCBlue Ridge Community College(540) 234-9261 [email protected]

www1.brcc.edu/gutschow/

Contact Information



Carlotta EatonProfessor of IT & CSNew River Community CollegeDublin, VA 24084(540) 674-3600 [email protected]/eaton

Contact Information



Shawn LupoliAdjunct InstructorNew River Community College &Radford University(540) [email protected]

Contact Information

Q & AQ & AQ & AQ & A

Thanks for coming!Thanks for coming!

Lego Robotics to teach Team Building Skills

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