Term 4

Students will be learning about Scratch by working through a selection of projects. The focus will be on understanding the language and applying this knowledge to a unique project.

Introduction to Electronics

Students will build knowledge of basic electronics components and how they function in a circuit. They will build a one off project using a DSE kit.

Robotics

We will be working with the NXT robots learning how to program a variety of movements and exploring the use of the light senor in guiding the robot.

Middle School Boys Programme:

Discovering Robotic Technologies

This term the boys will be working with the Lego NXT robotics for the majority of the term. Towards the end of the term they will be introduced to Scratch Programming.

Design and Build
We are building a variety of robot models. By experimenting with robot design and function we will be developing an understanding of the mechanics.

Programming
Learning to control the robots using the NXT programming language. This will be an oppportunity to practice analytical and creative problem solving skills. The boys will be learning by completing a series of challenges from the simple to the complex.

Using Sensors
Learning about various sensory input devices how they work and what they do.
During this time we will be exploring the wider applications of the NXT.

Scratch Programming
Introduction to Scratch - Learning about what Scratch can do by working through a selection of tasks. Including creating a sprite, animating a sprite, learning how to moving a sprite using keys or mouse.

Interested in Scratch educational ideas and research?

To learn more about the educational ideas underlying Scratch, we have a collection of handouts, articles, and papers available for you, including:

Creating with Scratch, Learning with Scratch, and Programming with Scratch

A collection of one-page overviews on what and how people can create, learn and program with Scratch

Programming Concepts in Scratch

An overview of the computational concepts and skills young people can develop by creating with Scratch

Scratch and 21st Century Learning Skills

An overview of the learning skills young people can develop by creating with Scratch

Learning by Designing

A brief introduction to design-based approaches to learning

For more research and resources, explore other Scratch papers and presentations and ScratchEd resources.

Why learn about Robotics?

We can’t predict what the hot new technology will be in five years, but we can confidently predict that it will include computer programming, electronic embedded systems, engineering design, and mathematics. If you believe these things, then you need to know that robotics has the ability to teach these concepts. At the same time, robotics teaches 21^st century skill sets like time management, resource allocation, teamwork, problem solving, and communications.

Think about this...

• Approximately 98% of all the 32-bit microprocessors currently in use worldwide are used in embedded systems; in other words they are being used in robotic smart technologies.

• By the year 2010, it is forecasted that 90% of the overall program code developed will be for embedded computing systems; to innovate and compete globally we will need more people that know how to program.

• Robotics Technology is a hundred billion dollar emerging industry that has moved from being an industry that could potentially employ thousands of people to an integral part of all industries. Robotics will impact the economy the same way that mass production impacted the industrial revolution and the computer impacted the information age.

• Science and Engineering (S&E) occupations are projected to grow by 26% from 2010 to 2020, twice as fast as the overall job market during that period (S&EI 2008) yet we have fewer students pursuing S&E careers.

Robin Shoop,

Director, Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy

Carnegie Mellon University

http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/