Curriculum+Workshop-+Activity+Design+One-Robotics

__Building the Simplest Robotic Rover (SuRRy__) – Lego lingo and measurements

Now that we have observed SuRRy in action we are going to carefully take it apart and then put it back together again. Bins have been provided for you to place the Lego pieces as you take the robot apart. Instructions (separate document) have been provided to help you put SuRRy back together again.
 * Carefully disconnect all parts of your SuRRy robot and place them in the Lego bin. Carefully observe where each part goes as you take it apart. While you aren’t to remember where every single piece goes, familiarity with the robot will make constructing it easier.
 * With the assistance of SuRRy Building Guide, put all of the pieces back together again (insert Humpty Dumpty reference here).
 * After SuRRy is rebuilt run a couple of simple NXT programs to ensure it moves properly, e.g. drive forward and turn left. Just test how it drives, don’t worry about the sensors.

__Mindstorms Programming__ – Learning how to drive

Instead of using simple 5-step NXT programming, we are going to move to Mindstorms programming, which is more complex but gives us more flexibility. LEGO and National Instruments jointly developed Mindstorms software so it has an intuitive drag and drop interface and graphical programming environment that make it easy enough for a beginner yet equally powerful for an expert. Mindstorms software is an optimized version of the professional NI LabVIEW graphical programming software used by scientists and engineers worldwide to design, control and test products and systems such as MP3 and DVD players, cell phones, and vehicle air bag safety devices.

Software Components


 * Open up the NXT 2.1 Programming software (Mindstorms).
 * With help from your instructor you will do the following:
 * Successfully interface SuRRy to your computer.
 * Use the NXT Window to view the battery level, name, and memory of the robot.
 * Format the drive of your robot and wipe the memory.
 * Create a four-step driving program.

__Project-based Learning__: how wheel-diameter affects the speed of a robot

// Project Objectives //
 * To design and conduct an experiment that uses a robotic system
 * To test how different diameter wheels affect the speed of a vehicle
 * To create an effective Mindstorms program to run
 * To understand how to leverage Google Docs for student work

Getting Started: Observe the facilitator []
 * I. Show It **
 * Experimental Design in Google Docs

The experimental design should include the following:

Your names (First Name, Last Initial) 1.) A hypothesis 2.) Materials 3.) Method

[|https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmDkTbLwbJ2hdHFieTZqbHZFaWFhNmhOZVdyWnFRMHc#gid=0]
 * Data Analysis in Google Docs

Put all of your data in a spreadsheet and create a graph.

[]
 * Lab Report

Create a new document for the final lab report. The lab report should contain: 1.) Purpose of the experiment 2.) Materials and Method 3.) Results and Discussion (with graph)

With the assistance of your lab partner, do the following: 1.) Create a document on Google Docs and design your experiment. Materials can be found on a side table. 2.) Conduct the experiment. 3.) Record your data in a spreadsheet created in Google Docs. Additionally, create a graph. 4.) Write a lab report in a new document in Google Docs.
 * II. Do It **

Deconstruct the lesson using TPACK (the diagram below can assist you). Then answer the following questions.
 * III. Reflection **
 * Does the technology most effectively allow students to learn the given content and skill objectives?
 * Is the technology a "best fit" for the pedagogy within the lesson? Why? Why not?
 * Are there other tools that could be used to achieve the same student outcomes? What are they?