LEGO Ev3 Robotics – The Teacher Corner

aarmau@gmail.comDecember 4, 20172017, first lego league, fll, lego, lego mindstorms, lego robotics

 

LEGO Ev3 Robotics – The Teacher Corner

Are you interested in LEGO Mindstorms robotics, engineering, and computational thinking? Come along and learn how you could engage your students in the international FIRST LEGO League robotics competition, which involves over 228,000 students (aged 8-16) from nearly 80 countries!

Overview

FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is an international STEM robotics competition  which involves over 228,000 students (aged 8-16) from nearly 80 countries. During the FLL season (Sept-Nov), students have just 8-10 weeks to research and design an innovative solution to a real world problem; program LEGO Mindstorm robots to complete robot game missions; and compete at a FLL tournament. They also uphold the FLL Core Values of coopertition and gracious professionalism. The challenge theme changes each year, and past themes have included finding solutions to problems faced by senior citizens, responding to natural disasters, and caring for animals.

Through participation in a FLL season or adapting it to your classroom needs, students and teachers/coaches will

  • Learn about pedagogical approaches & teaching resources available to support new LEGO robotics teachers, including resources created by FLL coaches and participating students.
  • Explore the STEM learning opportunities afforded by the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competition, including students’ high-level research into a real world problem, public speaking opportunities, teamwork, and development of computational thinking.
  • Explore recommended approaches to coaching a FLL season, including advice on mission strategy, project management, the engineering design process, and core values activities.
  • Have the opportunity to learn how to program a LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robot.

Resources

http://www.techbrick.com/

http://ev3lessons.com

http://education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/roboticscurriculum/introduction-to-programming-lego-mindstorms-ev3/

 

ISTE Standards for Students

 

Knowledge Constructor

During the FLL competition, students are challenged to research and develop an innovative solution to a real world problem relating to the challenge theme (e.g. the interaction between humans and animals, caring for senior citizens, dealing with natural disasters). Students use digital tools to construct knowledge, sharing their solution with judges through a creative artifact and presentation.

Innovative Designer

Students use the engineering design process to build and program a competition robot, which must autonomously navigate the game field and complete missions based on real world problems. As part of this process, students must develop, test, and refine prototype programming and engineering solutions.

Computational Thinker

Students use computational thinking to break FLL challenges down into their component parts, using algorithmic thinking and problem solving strategies to find solutions to the robot game missions.

Getting Started

I have shared absolutely everything that we created for our 5 day/15 hour LEGO EV3 camp from this past summer. If you are looking for a progression of learning with multiple avenues of learning and opportunities to succeed, then this is for you. The site contains the flow for each day, rubrics, tutorials, example code, and more.

You can read about the philosophy behind the work here on the LEGO Engineering website.

Check it out and let me know if you have questions or better ideas

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Perhaps you are looking to get started in FIRST LEGO League. I have also created a website to help you navigate the season. This site breaks the season down into what I believe are four parts to a season. I have included examples of our past work as the Robodogs. We have been fortunate enough to have great success in the past and I believe it is not because we have amazing kids, but because we have an approach that works.

 

If you need help with getting started with programming LEGO EV3, then I have a tutorial section here

I started a new series that will have new content coming to the blog soon, but here are a few more to help you start in EV3

LEGO EV3 Programming Tip: The Power of the Comment Block 

LEGO EV3 Programming Tip: Using Spaces 

LEGO EV3: Bluetooth Project – Windy City 

Google Hangout about LEGO EV3 and First LEGO League 

At ISTE 2017, I was able to interview all types of professionals and teachers on behalf of LEGO Education to discuss how LEGO EV3 has impacted the learning for students in the classroom and beyond. These people share some amazing insights.

 

Hack the Classroom

Class Hack 4: LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 with Aaron Maurer

In an exciting and ever-changing world, students need to develop the skills, the courage to innovate, and the freedom to create! Teachers looking to empower students, turning their natural curiosity into creative exploration, one of our partners, LEGO® Education has worked to develop their solutions as an instant engagement tool. Watch how Aaron Maurer, STEM Lead for the Mississippi Bend A.E.A., shares his teacher hack to inspire his students

LEGO EV3 Courses Microsoft Education website

Become a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 expert with our series of three courses

LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 – Getting Started

LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 – In the Classroom

LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3

Supporting Research

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