Bringing it back

I had discontinued this for a while... but I realize now that may be a mistake. I'm going to be bringing this back. My intent is to start creating a lot of video content and publish it through YouTube. All of this will be free to use as an individual or as content if you are an instructor or teacher. I would greatly appreciate thumbs ups for content you find useful. I'll probably start this back up at the start of the new year- and it'll probably get a face lift at that time as well.

Thanks for staying interested, and keep your eyes open around the end of December/start of January.

Robotics Final Rubric

click to enlarge

The course won't be available until the day of,

however, you can use the rubric to see some of 

the skills you'll need for it.

Due Dates are Extremely Nigh!

This is your final week to work on your projects and assignments. Anything not turned in Friday won't be graded. Late isn't an option, as grades are due over the weekend. That's just how things fall this six weeks.

Examples of Lego Animatronics
They still need a bit of work, as obviously they still look like robots, but with feathers, but you can see the direction.

click to see a video of a similar design

One Year Later

We are nearing the anniversary of last year's terrible natural disaster in Japan.

Japan Challenge on StudentsRebuild.org

- Journey of Two Million Cranes

- Paper Cranes for Japan

Info from the USGS

Huffington Post Content

New York Times Content

CBC's Japan Rebuilds

Before and After Galleries

Destruction:

NPR's Before and After

ABC's Before and After

NBC's Before and After

Reconstruction:

NBC's Before and After

Boston Globe's Before and After

(click the image to see before/after)

InFocus Before and After

(click the image to see before/after)

Google's Memories for the Future

Image's from Professional Photojournalists

Atlantic's In Focus:

Earthquake in Japan, Aftermath, Rescue Recovery Reaction,

Two Weeks Later, Two Months Later, Six Months Later, One Year Later

Boston Globe's Big Picture

March 11, March 12, March 14, March 15, March 16,

March 17, March 18, April 13, June 15, Dec 28, March 9

Popsicle Stick Challenge 2

Sub Day = Quiz Grade

Whenever I am out, what you get done that day (judged by how much evidence your provide for me on your blog alongside feedback from today's guest teacher) counts as a Quiz Grade. Show me how productive you were and keep your teacher happy and you'll be fine. If you choose otherwise, then... not so happy :(

I won't be here today or next class. Each day counts as a separate quiz grade.

On your blog, tell me about what you got done today. Both days are quiz grades! 

For my newer students, write it up in a google doc and share it with me.

Todays groups:

You can work in your previous groups when I get back. Don't challenge the group, and don't give your teacher a hard time, get over it and complain when I get back if feel you need to.

1- Michael, Thuong thuong, Jeremy

2- Tyler, Deseri, Brent

3- Billy, Raul, Jonathan

4- Thuong Thuong, Erik, Joseph

You will need a fairly large amount of popsicle sticks. Your goal is to build a bridge, using just popsicle sticks. No glue, no tape, no string... just popsicle sticks. It CAN be done, but it can be challenging. We, myself and a group of teachers, were able to build these during the summer in about 30-60 minutes in groups of three.

an example of a bridge using only popsicle sticks

a bit more advanced

Can you make yours this tall? How tall can you make it?

(take pictures of what you have before getting too ambitious, in case it collapses)

Take pictures of your completed bridge and post them on your blog 

(or in your shared google doc)

Discussion/Reflection Questions:
How hard was this challenge? 

Did it get easier as you went?

Do you think that working as a group made this easier?

How do you think this would of gone if you had to do this independently?

Discuss your thoughts to these questions on your blog (or in your shared google doc).

Robotics

Popsicle Stick Challenge

Sub Day = Quiz Grade

Whenever I am out, what you get done that day (judged by how much evidence your provide for me on your blog alongside feedback from today's guest teacher) counts as a Quiz Grade. Show me how productive you were and keep your teacher happy and you'll be fine. If you choose otherwise, then... not so happy :(

I won't be here today or next class. Each day counts as a separate quiz grade.

On your blog, tell me about what you got done today. Both days are quiz grades! 

For my newer students, write it up in a google doc and share it with me.

Today's groups: 

You'll have a different group next class. You can work in your previous groups when I get back. Don't challenge the group, and don't give your teacher a hard time, get over it and complain when I get back if feel you need to.

1- Michael, Deseri, Raul

2- Tyler, Erik, Jonathan

3- Joseph, Jeremy, Kevin

4- Thuong Thuong, Billy, Brent

Instructions: 

1. Each group needs 12 popsicle sticks. The position shown below is the starting pattern for each of the challenges listed in #2.

1. Experiment with rearranging the sticks to complete the challenges below. When you’ve figured out the solution, sketch the arrangement and take a picture of it in photobooth. 

Post them on your blog for credit.

1. Move 3 sticks to make 3 squares 

(all the same size)

1. Move 4 sticks to make 3 squares 

(all the same size)

1. Move 2 sticks to make 7 squares 

(these do not have to all be the same size)

1. Move 2 sticks to make 6 squares 

(these do not have to all be the same size)

1. Move 2 sticks to make 5 triangles 

(these to not have to all be the same size)

1. Move 5 sticks to make 12 rectangles 

(these to not have to all be the same size)

1. Move 2 sticks to make 12 rectangles 

(these to not have to all be the same size)

1. Move 5 sticks to make 15 rectangles 

(these to not have to all be the same size)

Discussion/Reflection Questions:
How hard was this challenge? 

Did it get easier as you went?

Do you think that working as a group made this easier?

How do you think this would of gone if you had to do this independently?

Discuss your thoughts to these questions on your blog.

New Students: First Robot

Grading

Even though grades are being put into the gradebook, you have through Friday to turn in anything that's missing or unfinished. If something was not completed, but already graded, you have through Friday to show me the completed/finished work. As always, lab is available to work during lunch and after school.

Robotics

I'm not here today, sooo.... Quiz grade based on how much you get done and feedback from our sub. The grade is based on two things, a) how much evidence is there for the work you completed during the class, and b) feedback from the sub on effort and attention to your assignments during the class period. Keep your sub happy! If the sub reports any problems, you can expect a detention.

I'll be putting grades in on Saturday. Everything should be done except your project.
---
Work on your props for your course. Perhaps rethink the plan for your course, your robot, or your program. Its good to have a couple different plans, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have alternative methods in how the robot may compete your course. You may not have your robot, but you can still program if you have have the course done.

Take pictures of what you get completed today on your blog. This includes built props, sketches, plans, anything. The more evidence of what you got accomplished, the better the grade.

If you can't seem to find a way to work on your robot / course, I have provided some extra work you can do instead.

Finals Schedule

Tuesday, December 13 (B-day)*

7:45 – 8:50  Period 5 Class

8:55 – 10:55  Period 6 Exam

11:00 – 12:05  Period 7 Class

12:10 – 1:00  Lunch

1:05 – 3:05  Period 8 EXAM

Wednesday, December 14 (A-day)**

7:45 – 9:45  Period 1 EXAM

9:50 – 11:50 Period 4 EXAM

11:55 – 12:30  Lunch

Thursday, December 15 (B-day)**

7:45 – 9:45  Period 5 EXAM

9:50 – 11:50 Period 7 EXAM

11:55 – 12:30  Lunch

Friday, December 16 (A-day)**

7:45 – 9:45  Period 2 EXAM

9:50 – 11:50 Period 3 EXAM

11:55 – 12:30  Lunch

Nov 21 & 22

Use today to complete previous assignments. 

Robotics

Today & Friday, I want you guys to create some plans. What are you planning?

Show me on your blog what your able to get completed:

Couple things:
Sensors
Plan how you'll show me that you can get all four sensors to work (independently or multiple at a time is up to you).

The Course
I want you guys to design the course. We're going to start talking about robots in space, and so the theme for the course is a robotic rover on Mars. So, plan what would your robot would do on Mars (collecting data and samples). Also, start planning and designing the course and obstacles. Your welcome to do some research regarding robots in space and Mars to aid you. I'd like to see some sketches of the different planned obstacles and course layouts.

Their is one sort of twist to this challenge. When you guys are programming, you'll need to use the sensors in the programming. While there are a lot of things we can do in space with robots, and we can steer them to some degree, we certainly can't accurately land a craft or robot in an exact location, only in a general area. As such, when your robot is to complete the challenge, it will be placed in a general location but not always in the exact same spot. By using your different sensors, you should be able to get your robot to do what it needs to.

Final Robot
Start planning the design for your robot to effectively complete objectives related to to data collection for this task. I'd like to see some sketches of what your robot might look like. Remember, the course is being designed by multiple groups, so the final course will likely be a blending of them. A couple different designs would be useful.

Next Presentation
If your stuck on the previous things, you can also start looking into what you want to present on next.

If you haven't voted for us today in the Clorox Grant yet, you can do so now. Don't forget, you can vote every day!
How to Vote:
- Text: Clorox4546 to 44144
- Online: Power a Bright Future (<- won't be able to vote if facebook is blocked)

Continue current assignments

Extra Credit?
We need a new video for our school. Create one for extra credit!
Talk to your instructor for details.

Robotics

What you show me counts for a quiz grade today.

First: Technical drawing sheets (2 + scratch paper)

Second: I've found two games that are robotic/programming related.
Try them out and tell me about your experiences on your blog:

RoboZZle
Program a small ship to collect stars

Alchemical Engineering 
Program robot arms to create and move alchemical compounds

End of 6 Weeks

Friday of this week is the final day of the 6 weeks. Any assignments not yet completed need to be turned in by the end of Friday. See previous posts regarding assignments due.

Robotics

Current Robot Challenges

1. 2.5 Meters
2. Close Shave
3. Round About
4. Figure 8
5. Round & Round
6. Write it Out

Robotics Today

Sorry guys. After I saw you guys Thursday, Dr. B had some things she wanted me to take care of today.

Whenever I'm not here, you receive a quiz grade. This grade is based on what evidence you provide on your blog for what you were able to accomplish. I'm only grading what you show me. If you have nothing to show me, then your grade will reflect that. I wont be asking later on what you got accomplished, it needs to be uploaded at the end of class. If blogger won't upload part of your work, take a screenshot of your work and leave it on your desktop and I can check your computer when I get back on Tuesday morning.

Keep your teacher happy today. Any reports of problematic students results in a detention. THIS is your warning.

If you check the board, people should be presenting soon, today actually. I'm not here, so we'll push them all back a day (if you'd rather have your's the day you chose and not pushed back a day, that's fine, just let me know next time you see me). If you should be presenting today, make sure you're ready next class.


What to work on:

1) Honda's Power of Dreams

Watch the Honda Power of Dreams video about Robotics.

2) BBC Ready for the Robot Revolution

Check out the BBC Article.

3) New Laws of Robotics

Read over the article here.

4) Response

Think about what you saw and read for a few minutes. Think about what you already knew about robots, and how does this add to and/or alter your views and understanding. On your blog, write me a response and reflection to what you gained from these media sources on your blog. 

5) Lego NXT

Start learning a bit more about what you're working with.

The website Ortop.org has some useful resources, including an Editor Introduction video which goes over some of the components we'll be using to build robots.

Watch the Editor Introduction video. This will make the next few steps when programming your robot easier. There's also a few videos on there that are pretty similar to your first task that you could check out if you want.

6) Independent Presentations

If you have remaining time, use it to work on your independent presentations that are coming up.

Robotics

Grades are finalized at the end of this week. Check the gradebook and make sure that I've seen everything you've completed. Any missing work not turned in before the end of this six weeks will forever be a zero. These will fail some of you if you choose to make no change.

THIS is the END of your time to fix it.

If you haven't already (should have last class), show me your notebook. It's a grade, an easy one if you do it, and a zero if you don't. 




1) First thing for this six weeks
Make your blog safe. As I've been viewing over your blogs, some of them have some things that need to be fixed. So, the first thing is to remove any personal information that may not be safe to include your blog. In addition, make sure you don't have your full name anywhere, your picture, where you live, the name of your school, etc. This will be for a grade, so make sure you are keeping yourself safe when online!


2) Lightbot

How many of the 'RECURSION', 'CONDITIONALS', 

and 'EXPERT' levels can you complete on Light-Bot 2.0?

We're starting to work with the LEGO robots, and as we get more advanced so will the programming. Some of the things programs your create will have conditionals in them. Of course, we'll work our way up to them, but getting a bit of a preview isn't a bad idea.


On your blog, reflect on your Light-Bot experience. (things to think about: how is it related to robots, how might light-bot be relative to the course, how might playing light-bot benefit you, did you find anything challenging, etc - a reflection is at least a paragraph, NOT just a lonely single sentence)


There's a somewhat more complicated worksheet based on light-bot 2.0 (its bright yellow).


3) Measuring

We will be measuring fairly often in robotics. There is a worksheet to assess your current proficiency with measuring. If you need some assistance, let me know.

4) Lego Robot

Once you have the first three steps complete, let me know and I'll talk with you about our first project with the Lego Robot.

Robotics

Grades are finalized at the end of this week. Check the gradebook and make sure that I've seen everything you've completed. Any missing work not turned in before the end of this six weeks will forever be a zero. These will fail some of you if you choose to make no change.

THIS is your time to fix it.

If you haven't already, show me your notebook. It's a grade, an easy one if you do it, and a zero if you don't. 


0) Notebook Check
If you haven't yet, setup your notebook today. Put your technical drawings in there and update your table of contents.

When it's complete, bring it to me for grading.

1) Lego NXT
Start learning a bit about what we'll be working with.
The website Ortop.org has some useful resources, including an NXT Introduction video which goes over some of the components we'll be using to build robots.

Watch the NXT Introduction video and answer the following questions on your blog:

1. Fill in the Blank
The heart of the NXT System is the NXT brick. Its a full 16bit microprocessor. You can plug sensors in along the _________ and motors in along the ___________.

2. Open-Ended
What are the four sensors it discusses and what do they measure?

3. Short Answer
How does the NXT Brick know how many rotations the motor has made?

4. Short Answer: Step-by-Step
How would I make the robot run the program I wrote?

5. Short Answer: Step-by-Step
How do I turn off the NXT brick?

2) Lightbot

Complete at least the 'BASICS' on Light-Bot 2.0
(once the game loads, click where the red arrow is pointing to begin)

On your blog, reflect on your Light-Bot experience. (things to think about: how is it related to robots, how might light-bot be relative to the course, how might playing light-bot benefit you, did you find anything challenging, etc)

Afterwards, you will have a worksheet to complete that builds on your experience gained in Lightbot. Its due next class period. So don't worry too much if you're a bit behind, or if you end up playing with Lightbot longer than you intended.

Sept 26th

Continue Working on Previous Assignments from previous class.