Robotics Kits Across the Curriculum: Integrating STEM in Middle and High School Courses.

Elizabeth Perry, Ph.D.Theresa Richards, Ph.D.

Pittsburgh's only age 3 – grade 12 independent girls’ day school

Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Workshop Outline

• Educational Robotics for the Classroom

• Hands-on using robotics kits

• Integration of robotics at your school

Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Progress!

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Progress?

Women earning college degrees:

• Engineering -- No Change

• Computer Science -- Down by 1/3

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Building Robots - Building Futures

• Educational Robotics for the Classroom

• Integrating Robotics at these schoolsThe Ellis SchoolSt. Louise de Marillac Parish SchoolAllegheny Valley School District

Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Our Background

Work with an all girls FIRST Robotics team that is mentored by the Field Robotics Center at CMU

Science Teacher

Technology Integration Specialist at EllisComputer Science Teacher

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Robotics Learning Curve:

• Attended all the robotics team meetings last year• Facilitated an introductory robotics mini course at

Ellis with a CMU Robotics Institute professor– Reintroduced to programming– Summer workshop JAVA for Math and Science Teachers

• Enrolled in Educational Robotics for the Classroom– Learned about teaching my curriculum using robotics

technology

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Robotics Results

“The mini course was definitely more fun, because in my other programming classes, I would just write code and not do much with it, but in the mini course I was programming an actual ROBOT!”

Richards Perry NCGE 2/10/12

Integration of Robotics in a Human Anatomy and Physiology Class at The Ellis School

A Modeling Muscles Lab is a part of the current curriculum in Human Anatomy and Physiology– Students create models of skeletal muscles using

nylons (very stretchy) stuffed with various soft materials

– Attach muscles to the classroom skeleton at appropriate markings

– Act out the actions of the muscles- flex, extend, adduct, etc.

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The Old Way

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The New Way

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Creating the model of the arm

Making the muscles

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Putting it together : The Robotic Arm

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Robotic Results

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Arm Lab Survey ResultsDescribe the ways the Robot Diaries Arm Lab affected your learning of how the muscles and

bones function together.

“I learned that when we are moving the arm, there are not one but many muscles and bones working together in order to perform a certain movement that our brain manages.”

“The Robot Diaries Arm Lab allowed me a hands on experience to better illustrate my understanding of how all of the muscles and bones function together in the arm. By actually building the robotic arm and piecing together the bones and muscles I was able to understand the different angles and roles of each respective piece.”

“I learned where the muscles go in respect to the arm bones.”

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Arm Lab Survey Results Describe the ways you have used technology in your education at Ellis.

I use my computer a lot. I also built a robotic arm.

I have used computers and laptops most often, but I have also worked with digital programming in art classes and, most recently, elements of robotics during this project.

I use laptops, and I used robots in anatomy.

We learned how the muscles and bones function in the motion. We made a model of our arms with motors and hummingbirds and other robotics parts to simulate how they actually work.

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Robotics Integration at Other Schools

At the St. Louise de Marillac Parish school in PAthe Gorgon coin was a collaboration of the Latin club and the student Tech Team. Students ranged from grades 5 - 8.

Teacher Zee Ann Poerio said: “We have an ancient coin museum exhibit and our Latin Club members serve as docents each year. We wanted to have a coin that visitors could interact with as part of the exhibit.”

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Middle School Latin Club

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Robotics Integration at Other Schools

At the Allegheny Valley School District in PA Gifted Support coordinator, Susan Mellon, created a Robot Diaries activity to use as a great culminating project for a poetry unit. Ms. Mellon’s curriculum is available athttp://educationalrobotics.posterous.com/?secret=BrbJkGiwtemEqJbydkGFhevsuIzIwI.

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Middle School Poetry

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Resourceshttp://robotdiaries.posterous.com/?secret=GcAtthDgBuBduGhanbzIaBolclarDC

• Link to March course description (also a handout)• Zee’s and Sue’s videos

http://www.birdbraintechnologies.com/content/products• For hummingbird and Arts and Bots/Robot Diaries Kits

http://paa2011.princeton.edu/download.aspx?submissionId=111625

(stats)

http://educationalrobotics.posterous.com/?secret=BrbJkGiwtemEqJbydkGFhevsuIzIwI

• Educational Robotics for the Classroom web site.

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Introductory Workshop for TeachersInterested in learning about Arts & Bots (formerly Robot Diaries) first hand? Join us for a short introductory workshop this March. Learn about the newest Hummingbird hardware (due to be released early 2012) and visual programming software as well as ideas for using Arts & Bots in your classroom. No robotics experience necessary.What:Arts & Bots Introductory WorkshopWhen:March 7, 20125 pm - 9 pmWhere:Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA 15213Contact:Jenn Cross, jenncross99@gmail.com