Transcript Robotics Curriculum Development

Online Robotics Program
for Middle Schools
EML 4551 Senior Design Project
Jeancarlo Casasola
Dennis Diaz
Emily Senyk
Advisor: Dr. Sabri Tosunoglu
Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Purpose
To develop online robotics courses to aid
middle school students develop interest in
STEM fields and gain a greater knowledge in
robotics.
This project’s intent is to produce online
resources for use in a fully online course.
Develop a robotics kit specifically targeting
middle school students.
Why?
The curriculum currently being used in local
schools are not structured and encourages
students to piece robotics kits together rather
than have the students learn the purpose
behind each piece.
STEM Initiative
• The President’s 2016 Budget invests more than $3 billion
in programs across the Federal Government on STEM
education with a goal of preparing 100,000 STEM teachers
over the next decade.
• Department of Education (ED) new competitive program
invests $125 million to help communities across America
launch Next-Generation High Schools that will be
laboratories for cutting-edge STEM teaching and learning.
• The National Science Foundation is investing $135 million to
improve retention of undergraduate STEM majors and improve
undergraduate teaching and learning in STEM subjects.
• The National Education Association plans to raise $1.5 million
for an initiative that aims to increase the number of certified
science and math teachers and improve STEM instruction.
• 100Kin10 unites the nation’s top academic institutions,
nonprofits, foundations, companies, and government agencies to
train and retain 100,000 excellent STEM teachers by 2021 to
educate the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.
Tasks
● Cooperate with local schools such as Ruben Dario M. S.
● Study M. S. curriculum which will define our design
criteria for the robotics program to be developed
● Team up with FIU’s College of Education
● Development of robotics kit concepts
● Design, test and evaluation of the selected robotic
system
● Development of online course modules
Background
• Robotics is a fast growing part of the
engineering sectors so primary and
secondary schools have taken notice.
• Educational institutions have started on
the right path by creating robotics classes
and clubs in order to increase the interest
in robotics.
• The problem is the lack of a set structured
robotics courses.
Products & Costs
Industries from all over the world provide their own
robotics kits to ease the learning process. They
provide simple interactive problems to help students
of all ages complete a specified robotic task.
Lego Mindstorms (USA) : $350-600
Vex(UK): $350-900
Fishertechnik (GER):$ 150-600
• Teams of 3 or 4 to be an optimal size in
school settings.
• Obtaining enough kits for a large class can be
very expensive especially the current
standard science modules now on the market
for middle schools.
What Makes Us Different
Our objective is to design a robotics kit that will
assist schools in enhancing the learning process.
Objectives of the proposed robotics program
• Cost effective
• Introductory level for middle school students
• Multilingual and global in nature
• Simple to manufacture & assemble
• Possibly modular
Robotics Program Tools
The robotics program will build on students’
current knowledge and introduce new concepts
as appropriate:
• Microcontrollers, servo motors and sensors
• Capitalize on prior programming knowledge
• Online tools (tutorials, projects)
Engineering Standards
• National Science Education Standards: Benchmarks for
Science and Technological Literacy
• US Consumer Product Safety
Standard for Children's Toys
Commission:
Safety
• National Science Teachers Association: Safety in Science
Classroom, Laboratory, or Field Sites
• National Science Teachers Association: Next Generation
Science Standards
Global Initiative
Incorporating global attributes for this project
such as:
•
•
•
•
Global Units (SI & English)
Multi-lingual translation
Online course content availability
Robotics kit is global and easy to manufacture
Time Line
Jan
Research
Problem Statement
Project Formulation
Conceptual Design
Engineering Analysis
Simulation
Design Evaluation
Prototype Construction
Testing
Final Design
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Conclusion
• Design an innovative robotic tool suitable
for middle school students to aid in the
development of a robotics program
• This effort will enhance student
participation in STEM-related fields
consistent with President’s STEM
Education Initiative.