Save some paper and eliminate potential excuses...

 A colleague of mine forwarded me a great post describing a simple idea - use Google Calendar for keeping your students up-to-date.

I couldn't agree more with this sentiment - which basically boils down to this: rather then disseminating a myriad of paper updates to students (and their parents) use a shared document like Google Calendar to instantly push updates and changes. Notification via email can be automatically generated when the source file changes.

Although the article was written with college professors in mind, I think it is just as applicable to the lower grades (the amount of paperwork coming home with my kids is somewhat overwhelming at times).

I guess the excuses won't end - just change their tone. I can see it now: "Sorry, somehow your update notifications got flagged as spam".

Why not more building time?

A few students have expressed frustration at not doing more building during our WRECK sessions. The primary reason for this is really a lack of time - having only 40 minutes with the kids makes serious tinkering impossible. Couple that with the small number of kits available (right now I struggle to keep a maximum of four students per NXT set) and the fact that we share these kits with two separate groups and I think you see my dilemma.

My solution - although not perfect - has been to prepare a robot model ahead of time, and then allow the students to program the behavior during the session. Our base design consists of two motorized drive wheels and one idle wheel for steering/stability. The construction is fairly simple and the robot is sturdy enough to last through some mishaps (intentional or not). I've also tried to allow for future expansion by keeping all four sides free for sensors.

Our first "lab" session was designed to get the kids familiar with running the NXT software on the laptops and downloading programs to the robot. We learned how to move the motors and also how two different driving wheels are used to steer by varying the power to each drive. We also covered program loops. The kids did great and seemed excited to see the robots respond to their programs. Of course there was much laughing and hysteria as robots were accidentally run into walls/people/etc.

For our next lab, I will add a sensor to our Robot base which will naturally lead into programming decision statements. Initially we'll probably just use touch sensor and allow the kids to figure out how to get the robot to respond to an obstacle.

I'm also starting to brainstorm ideas for our "final challenge" to be held at the end of the school year. Since we're only using the stock NXT kit, it can't be too complicated. If anyone has an idea, please post a comment or send on some email.

Holiday presents and ideas - Lego Mindstorm NXT

I get a lot of questions from the students (and some parents) on what they should buy for the kids who want to explore robotics and programming on their own. The obvious answer is the Lego NXT which can be purchased online (for example Target, Direct from Lego, Walmart or some random toy store) and (sometimes) at the local Toys R Us (call first). If you would like, buy through the Amazon link (below) and a small portion of the purchase price will go towards funding more kits and materials for WRECK.



As this is Lego, the prices are pretty much fixed - so expect to pay about $280 for the base kit.

Note: This is the Lego NXT 2.0 - which is very slightly upgraded from the model we use at school. Physically, the brick (ask your kid what "brick" means!) is identical - the internal software ('firmware') is slightly different, as is the software which is loaded onto your PC - but for all intents and purposes, this version is the same as the one we use. With the kit you will get a cool color sensor (as opposed to the simpler light sensor in the previous kits), and a different set of Lego pieces, but those nothing is incompatible with the older unit.

Also, be wary of picking something up on eBay or Craigslist - make SURE what you are getting is denoted as the "NXT" - not just simply the Lego mindstorms (or "RCX"). The mindstorms RCX was Lego's first foray into the robotic construction set and, although very capable and useful in it's own right, is very decidedly NOT compatible with the NXT. If anyone wants to dabble in the RCX, I would be happy to discuss the options - but realize that this is an older platform which is no longer commercially supported by Lego, so you will be treading deeply into "hacker" territory (which can be a plus or minus depending on your goals!).

For the person that already has an NXT, you can either buy more sensors and accessories. A great place to look at other additions to the NXT line is the Lego education site.  There is a lot of stuff there for the Lego "power builder". Be wary of the RCX product line which is still alive and well in the educational market - double check what you are ordering (or ask me!) to make sure you don't get something that is incompatible.

Welcome

I've set up this Blog as a place to keep notes, ideas and content relevant to the Whittier Robotic Explorer Club for Kids (W.R.E.C.K).