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Robótica InfantilComunidades Filotecnólogicas para

chicos

Marina U. Bers, PhD

Assistant ProfessorEliot-Pearson Dept. of Child DevelopmentAdjunct, Computer Science Department

Tufts University

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What is robotics?

Mechanics and electronicsBuilding and programmingDesigning and engineering

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The Robotics Technology

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Why robotics in early childhood?

New generation of building blocks

Child-centered curriculum

Appropriate for today’s context

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Educating grown-ups

Generational gap between: Digital natives

& Digital immigrants

Need of professional development

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Project InterActions

•Multigenerational community of practice•Learning together about robotics •Constructionist pedagogy•Focusing on family culture•Positive technological development

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Early Childhood Teacher’s Institute

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Evaluation of the teacher’s Compared to other courses/workshops you have attended, how would you rate this institute overall? (4 excellent -1 poor) Average: 3, 809

“I truly enjoyed the time observing and their reflections on approach, expectations of students, etc. I enjoyed having time to build and program! The speakers during lunch were a wonderful part of this workshop.”

You have really inspired me to try something in my class that I have never considered

before. I think this project will help me become more

technologically interested in a way that is meaningful for

me!

I intentionally registered for the institute as a way to overcome

some of my anxiety about using technology classes. This workshop

has made me realize that technology can be combined with my natural preferred subject areas in an easy and comfortable way.

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The Clown

• Walked (clown mounted on car)

• Hat lit up• Arms spun

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Human Cannonball

• Idea from circus video

• Cannon car would drive

• Cannon would gyrate up and down

• Cannon Car would stop and ‘shoot’ LEGO man into net

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Snack Machine

• Doors would open when button was pressed

• Light sensor would detect food level in machine

• Lamp would light up when machine was empty.

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Teachers projects:Apple Delivery - Grade 2

• History of New England (apple picking)

• How to automate a manual task

• Basic Building (apple cart)

• Basic programming with sensors (stop at dark line

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Drawing Robot - Pre School

• Students would program pre-built cars to draw on paper

• Introduce students to directions (forward, back, left right)

• Introduce Basic Pilot Programming

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Bats - Grade 2

• Students would build and program their own robotic bats

• Bat would have wings (gearing)

• Bat would respond to dark (sensors)

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Kinetic Sculpture - K-8

• 8th grade students would build and program the moving part of a kinetic sculpture

• Younger students K-2 would provide the artistic elements

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Integrating arts with engineering

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To learn more...

http://www.tufts.edu/~mbers01marina.bers@tufts.edu

Developmental Technologies (DevTech) Research Group

http://ase.tufts.edu/DevTech/