Summer SAVY, Session 5 Day 3, “Programming and Robotics” (5th-6th)
Day 3 of Programming and Robotics was packed with robot builds and programming! We started our day reviewing the rules and procedures of our classroom. We then jumped right into learning about prosthetics and building our own robotic arm and hand with our LEGO Spike Primes. Students were tasked with using their hands to stack bricks end to end. Students did an excellent job tweaking the code to make the hand open and close more efficiently. Some were even able to stack six bricks!
We next asked the question, ‘Should robotics be used in aviation?’ We watched a video about how companies are developing robots to make air travel and flights more efficient, but also safer. In the future, the hope is that no lives will be lost in air travel. The class then worked through elements of Paul’s Reasoning Model to think critically about robotics in air travel. Students worked through implications (both positive and negative), perspectives that should be taken into consideration, and assumptions that will be made by different perspectives. Students then built a wind speed robot and programmed it to show the wind speed of the respective city. The code for this project was difficult. Students did a lot of trial and error on the code and collaborated with other groups to write a program that met the criteria.
Coding Stations were moved up in our schedule today, and students had a great time working together, playing their games, or building on their own. They were so engaged during this time. At the end of the day, we read an article together and made connections concerning robotics and transportation. Students discussed how transportation can be improved by robotics, and how robotics may actually create more problems in transportation. We connected jobs in transportation with the 3 Ds of industry we learned about on Monday.
We had another great day in Programming and Robotics! Tomorrow, we will finish up transportation with another build and explore how robotics is used in manufacturing. We will also visit a class of older students who are working to build automated vehicles. We will get to see how they test and improve their designs and code.
Some questions to ask your student tonight include:
- What benefits does robotics have for people who are missing limbs?
- What are some implications of the use of robotics in air travel?
- How do automated or self-driving cars use sensors?
Mrs. Lewis and Ms. Snader