10 Week Session Overview

Outcome: Participants learn to apply science, technology, engineering, and math concepts (STEM). Participants are encouraged to follow their imagination, learn together and solve problems through creativity.

Learning Areas: STEM

Time Frame: 10 weeks, not including school holidays, broken up into 2-4 hour sessions

Battery: Ensure that the battery is fully charged each session.
Models: Ensure all models are assembled correctly and function correctly. Ensure the sticky dots are attached and hold on to the mat properly.

Session One

Session Length: 2 hours

Focus:

Getting to know the team members, parents, and mentors

Setting expectations for the 10 week program

Expectations from Team Members

Expectations from Mentors

Expectations from Parents

Expectations from Library Staff

Expectations of Achievements during the program

Discuss all session dates and times

Get to know EV3

Preparation

Mentors

Blue Cards have been scanned and sent to Lego Robotics Coordinators

Inductions Have been completed and sent to Lego Robotics Coordinators

Email has been sent prior with information regarding the Lego Robotics Program, see example here

Staff

Load Mindstorm coding application onto library devices (touch screen,iPads, Laptop)

Watch an interesting 35 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfULACF0Now

Prepare the Photographic Permission form

Name Tags

Team Members

Download the current Challenge video to show to the group

Have last years video of the Tech Fest ready to show to the group

Treat the provided equipment with respect, if pieces are not needed put them back where they belong so you can find them later when you need them

Expectations on Parents and Participants

Material

Core Values and Top 10 Tips for Rookie Teams

Ev3 & building instructions

Lego Core Set

Session Content

Have everyone introduce themselves, hand out name tags, ensure everyone has signed in and is wearing their name badge

Talk about the 10 week project outline

Talk about responsibilities of each group: Team Member, Mentor, Parent, Staff using the Core Values and Top 10 Tips for Rookie Teams

Confirm Dates and Times for all coming meetings - these are to be included in the Weekly Lego Robotics Newsletter

Watch the Isaac Lego Robotics video (long version)

Team building task: Build the EV3 robot and make sure the emphasis is on teamwork > everyone gets a go and is involved in this task

Mindstorms: Talk the team through the Mindstorms software

Go through the individual tabs (help is provided in the training area)

Explain the difference to the tank and wheel block

Explain where the input for motors and sensors are

Give out this weeks homework

Homework

The first homework task is to create a code to make the EV3 robot move forward and then back to the starting position. The homework is given out at the end of the session and reiterated in the newsletter.

Session Two

Session Length: 2 hours

Focus:

Dive deeper into the Mindstorms coding software with more examples

Start building Lego robotics challenges

Preparation

Interactive big board and video to show this year challenge video

Print building instructions for challenges

Homework solution

Sign in sheets

Name tags

Material

Building instructions for challenges

Challenge pieces

Challenge Mat

Computer logins for public computers

Library USB

Session Content

Discuss team member homework solutions and problems

Explain your thought process and each step the robot has to perform

Explain the blocks you used and how you used them

Use the training mats to write code for the colour sensor (stop, turn, drive backwards on a color)

If time: start writing code to have the robot follow/drive a long the circle on the the training mat

Give out this weeks homework

Watch current years challenge video

In pairs of two start building challenge pieces

Homework

The second homework task is to: Build a code to make the robot drive forward until it can read the colour red (starting at black on the training mat); if it reads red stop, pause and drive backwards until it reads the colour yellow, stop on yellow.

Possible Solution without and with loops:

Session Three

Session Length: 2 hours

Focus:

Continue coding

Continue building challenge pieces

Preparation

Homework solution

Sign in sheets

Name tags

Material

Interactive big board to show homework solutions from the team

Building instructions for challenges

Challenge pieces

Challenge Mat

Computer logins for public computers

Library USB

Session Content

Discuss team member homework solutions and problems

Explain your thought process and each step the robot has to perform

Explain the blocks you used and how you used them

Start or Continue to code for the circle and oval on the training mat

Give out this weeks homework

In pairs of two continue to build challenge pieces

Set up the challenge mat with the completed challenge pieces

Go through mat set up and tidy up of challenge pieces

Homework

Drive along the circle on the mat: Start in the middle of the circle and drive forward. Use either degree or rotations to align the robot.

Possible solution to circle:

Possible solution to oval:

Session Four

Session Length: 2 hours

Focus:

Complete coding introduction via homework

Complete building challenge pieces

HELPFUL TIPS:

MUST: Ensure the code is saved and stored at the library as well as with the participants.

Time: time how long it takes for the robot to complete each challenge, keep in mind you only have 2.5 minutes for all challenges to be completed.

Speed: Slow and accurate, coming back to base you can increase the speed as accuracy is not as important; but ensure that the robot is completely in base before picking it up, to avoid penalties.

Positioning: Choose one to two starting points; repeat positioning regularly until participant can line up the robot correctly and accurately complete a challenge 3-times in a row.

Preparation

Homework solution

Sign in sheets

Material

Name tags

Challenge:

Pieces

Tub to store challenge pieces in

Table

Mat

Current challenge guide with point system

Current field set up guide

Session Content

Discuss team member homework solutions and problems

Explain your thought process and each step the robot has to perform

Explain the blocks you used and how you used them

Build the rest of the challenges

Set challenges up on the challenge board and discuss challenges i.e.:

Point system, points for each challenge

Penalty system

Challenges that can be solved in a similar fashion

Give out this weeks homework

Homework

Come up with a team name and logo

Bring a photo of yourself for the team poster

Start coding for the first Lego robot challenge your team is going to solve

Session Five - Eight

Session Length: 2 hours

Focus:

Team Poster

Team Introduction

Solve Lego Robotics Challenges (up to 5)

Preparation

Sign in sheets

Material

Name tags

Challenge:

Pieces

Tub to store challenge pieces in

Table

Mat

Current challenge guide with point system

Current field set up guide

Session Content

Choose team name and logo - homework task

Glue team member photos to poster

Discuss homework coding challenges

Start to discuss how you will run the table during the competition:

How will you decide who will be the positioner (person handling the robot on the day: selecting program and placing robot on the table) or will everyone get to run a challenge on the day, keeping in mind that this will cost time

Who is responsible to reset challenges or get the robot of the table if something goes wrong within the 2.5 minutes

Continue to work on challenge solutions

Homework

Continue to work on your challenge solution by coding for it, planning or designing attachments. Come up with a individual and/or team introduction.

Session Nine - Ten

Session Length: 2 hours

Focus:

Team Poster and Introduction

Solve Lego Robotics Challenges (up to 5)

Mock Challenge Run-Throughs

Preparation

Sign in sheets

Material

Name tags

Challenge:

Pieces

Tub to store challenge pieces in

Table

Mat

Current challenge guide with point system

Current field set up guide

Session Content

Complete started challenges

Work on timing on the challenges

Ensure Poster and Introduction is done

IMPORTANT: Have at least one hour of run-throughs, where you time 2.5 min and have everyone take the same positions they would do during Tech Fest. Also train to take challenge pieces off the table and put them back on as this will be happening during the team swap overs between competition times, each team has 15 min for this task.

For the competition day ensure you have:

The code secured and in sequence on robot and a USB;

The robot is charged and only the competition code is on it;

Challenges packed, as each team has to bring their own;

Everyone knows where to go and what time to be there.

Homework

Continue to work on your challenge solution in coding for it, planning or designing attachments.

Additional Sessions

You should have up to 2 weekend sessions to give the participants enough time to work on their challenges.

Session Length: 2-4 hours

Focus:

Team Poster and Introduction

Solve Lego Robotics Challenges (up to 5)

Mock challenge run troughs

Preparation

Sign in sheets

Material

Name tags

Challenge:

Pieces

Tub to store challenge pieces in

Table

Mat

Current challenge guide with point system

Current field set up guide

Session Content

Complete started challenges

Work on timing on the challenges

Ensure Poster and Introduction is done

IMPORTANT: Have at least one hour of run-throughs, where you time 2.5 min and have everyone take the same positions they would do during Tech Fest. Also train to take challenge pieces off the table and put them back on as this will be happening during the team swap overs between competition times, each team has 15 min for this task.

Challenges

2019 - Into Orbit

2020 - City Shaper

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