Facilitator: Jackie de Vries (Elm Creek School)

Facilitator: Jackie de Vries (Elm Creek School)

9:00 – 9:10 – Welcome / Introductions
9:10 – 9:40 – Introductory PowerPoint – pieces, how to use the kits

9:40 – 10:30 – Robotics in Industry

10:30 – 10:45 – Coffee/Refreshment Break

10:45 – 12:00 – Building Time

12:00 – 1:00 – Lunch

1:00 – 1:30 – Intro to Programming – sounds, basic programming, downloading

1:30 – 3:00 – Programming Time – challenges, Educator

3:00 – 3:30 – Demonstrations; Classroom use; Question Time

LEGO MINDSTORMS Workshop


The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT set is a robotics kit designed by the LEGO Group that allows users to create programmable robots.
There are three main parts to using the NXT set:

1. 
   Building the robot
   
   1. 
      Motors (allow it to drive, swivel, launch, etc.)
      
   2. 
      Sensors (light, sound, touch, ultrasonic)
      
   3. 
      Cables
      
   4. 
      Additional LEGO pieces (beams, axles, gears, pegs)
      

2. 
   Programming the robot
   
   1. 
      Very easy to use program (drag-and-drop)
      
   2. 
      Can tell the robot where to go, how to respond to its surroundings, which sensor to read, etc.
      
   3. 
      Download the programs to the robot through
      
      1. 
         USB cable
         
      2. 
         Bluetooth (wireless) connection
         

3. 
   Activating the robot
   
   1. 
      After downloading the program to the robot, the robot can be activated using the buttons on the NXT Intelligent Brick
      

Curriculum Connections

• 
  Science
  
  • 
    Grade 5: Forces and Simple Machines
    
  • 
    Grade 7: Forces and Structures
    
  • 
    Grade 11: Physics
    
  • 
    Design Process
    

• 
  Electronics
  

• 
  Computer Programming (ICT courses)
  

• 
  Language Arts – instructions (writing, following)
  

Some things to consider when using the NXT sets:

• 
  Time: during class time (1 – 2 weeks), full day (1 – 2 days)
  
• 
  Space: room to test robots, computers to do the programming, room that can be locked
  
• 
  Grouping: 2 – 4 students, variety of learning styles
  
• 
  Better to provide opportunities than step-by-step instructions
  
• 
  Use an inquiry approach or scaffolding approach
  
  • 
    Scaffolding approach activities
    
    • 
      Meri V. Cummings
      
    • 
      http;//www.cet.edu/robotics/
      

• 
  Prairie Rose School Division
  
  • 
    4 NXT sets
    
  • 
    1 resource kit
    
    • 
      Teachers may book the kits through Elm Creek School Library
      
    • 
      You need to attend a workshop before booking the kits
      
      • 
        Please contact Lisa Schroeder (436-2354)
        

• 
  Carman Collegiate
  
  • 
    1 NXT set
    
  • 
    1 resource kit
    

• 
  Iberville School
  
  • 
    2 NXT sets
    
  • 
    1 resource kit
    

Book Resources

• 
  introduction to the NXT sets
  
• 
  explanation of pieces
  
• 
  practical building techniques (step-by-step instructions)
  

• 
  instructions for programming and building various robots
  

Internet Resources