Week 2 - Day 6

Lesson Plan - Programming Missions

 

 Objectives:

  • Students will learn how to build robot structures to accomplish specific tasks

  • Students will utilize computer programming to command robots to perform specific functions

  • Students will analyze data provided through experiments to develop new understanding of the relationship between programming commands and system outputs.

 

Materials:

  • Robotics Lego kits

  • ROBOLab software application

  • Student Activity Instructions Sheet 2.1

  • Training Mission Programmer Pilot 1 handout

  • Training Mission Programmer Pilot 2 handout

 

Activity 1:  Building a Robot

Approx:  30 minutes

 

            Procedure:

1.      Provide students with a brief introduction of robots unit for the week. 

2.      Install the ROBOLab Software on the Classroom Computers (Instructional Technology will Install For the Teacher prior to the Class)

3.      Students will be learning how to use the ROBOLab software program to teach their robots to move in specific ways.

4.      These activities will provide the foundations for independent robotic missions.

5.      Give each robotics team Student Activity Instructions Sheet 2.1

6.      Students will build robots based on instructions

 

Activity 2:  Training Mission Programmer Pilot 1

Approx: 30 minutes

 

The mission is to construct and program a robot that will turn on Motor A in a backwards direction and stop after two seconds.

 

            Procedure:

1.      Provide a brief description of how the robot interacts with the Computer

2.      Provide students with the Training Mission Programmer Pilot 1 handout

3.      Provide assistance to students in test their robots.

 

 

Check for Understanding:

1.      What do you think the program tell the robot to do?

2.      What did the robots do?

3.      Did it do what it was supposed to do?

4.      How did it react differently from what you originally thought?

5.      What did it do instead? Why?

6.      What could you change to make it do something different?

7.      What did the icon "2s" tell the robot to do?

 

Have students complete the programming mission pilots and compare results.  Have students discuss how they can manipulate the program to product different outcomes.

 

Activity 3:  Training Mission Programmer Pilot 2
Approx:  30 minutes

 

This mission is to construct and program a robot that will turn both motors on at Power Level 5, run for one second and then, turn off. Then, change the program so that it reverses the motors and they run in the opposite direction at power level 3.

 

            Procedure:

4.      Provide students with the Training Mission Programmer Pilot 2 handout

5.      Teachers will need to allow students to complete Part 1 of this pilot and then check for understanding.

 

Check for Understanding Part 1:

1.      By looking at the program, what should your robot do?

2.      What did the robot do?

3.      did it do what it was supposed to do?

4.      If it didn't, what do you need to change?

5.      Any idea yet about what the 5 means underneath the motor icons?

6.      Begin Part 2 of this pilot

 

 

Check for Understanding Part 2:

1.      What did changing the direction of the motors do to the robot?

2.      What did changing the number 5 to a 3 do to the robot?

3.      What did you think the numbers below the motors tell you?

4.      If you are still not sure, try changing the 3s to 1s and test the robot again.  What happens now?