PROJECT INFORMATION
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INSTITUTION NAME |
University of Burgundy |
ESTIMATED DURATION |
4 hrs / activity – 1 day challenge |
AGE OF KIDS ADRESSED |
8 to 15 years old |
MATERIALS |
POB robot and Risbee software |
TECHNOLOGY |
Desktop computer |
Nº OF STUDENTS |
in groups |
Nº OF STUDENTS/TEACHER |
10 – 15 students / teacher |
Nº OF STUDENTS/RESOURCE |
1 robot / per group |
CODING ACTIVITY GOAL
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This activity is an introduction to computer programming using a simple programming environment (Risbee) and interactive hardware (POB robot). Further concepts about geometry are taught through the robot motions.
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SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS |
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Knowledge level |
Skills required |
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Teacher |
Basic knowledge about POB and Risbee |
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Student |
Basic knowledge about computer environment |
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This activity has to be carried out in two steps: (i) POB robot and Risbee software have to be introduced to teach the basis of the programming concept, and (ii) a challenge can be organised as presented in the section E.
It can be noted that the activities can also be carried out without the POB robot by using the simulation environment of Risbee as presented in the appendix.
STEPS TO FOLLOW TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY
Programming conceptualisation:
• Level 1 – the concepts tackle down are: (I) what is a robot (ii), the concept of programming and (iii) the concept of loops. The participants are enrolled in elementary to high school ranging from 8 to 15 years old.
• Level 2 – the concepts tackle down are: (I) the usage of the sensors to deal with distances, (ii) the concept of variables and (iii) the concept of test loops. The participants are enrolled in elementary to high school ranging from 10 to 15 years old.
• Level 3 – the concepts tackle down are: (I) the concept of function and sub-program, (ii) servomotor, (iii) programming the robot to get out of a maze. The participants are enrolled in secondary to high school ranging from 12 to 15 years old.
Challenges – reveal your talents:
• 1st step (duration – one day) – the challenge proposed to the participants is the following: “Are you able to program a robot in order to build a station on Mars.” In that activity, the robot should draw on the floor the plans of a space station and the children have never used the robot previously. At the end of the day, each team tests their approach. There is a maximum of 5 team composed of 6 children. The challenge is centred on programming the robot. However, in order to win, the teams must performed extra activities in parallel such as: create advert poster and radio spot to rise money for the project, propose solutions to produce water or energy, etc.
• 2nd step (duration – one month) – based on the previous challenge, open-discussions between children and their guidance councillor in the college. The goal is to understand why the children are interested or not by science. The second goal is to convince children that they are able to work and be creative in the future in a scientific domain even if they do not like mathematics!
• 3rd step (duration – one morning) – feedbacks with open-discussion about previous steps. Are the children are interested in science, programming, technology? What are the reasons? Extra presentations by engineers, scientists, etc.. of their activities. (one morning)
PHOTOS/VIDEOS OF THE ACTIVITY
LINKS RELATED TO THE PROJECT
A booklet with the different activities is available at the following web address:
https://github.com/glemaitre/early-mastery/blob/master/technovision/guideline-activities/english-latex-guideline/report.pdf