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Unread 24-08-2013, 21:36
sanddrag sanddrag is offline
On to my 16th year in FRC
FRC #0696 (Circuit Breakers)
Team Role: Teacher
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Glendale, CA
Posts: 8,507
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Re: Curriculum ideas/outline for full year robotics course?

Yes, that part of the course description caught my eye too. If I was a student in that class as written, I'd probably want out by the third week. In my Intro to Engineering class, we're building robots and learning CAD in the second week. Why wait?

You can teach all the concepts and theory and history of engineering and robotics for a semester, but it won't be engaging, and it won't stick. Students need to be DOing something not just listening to the teacher talk and looking at powerpoints. They do that plenty enough in other classes. In a STEM class, they need hands-on project-based engagement. That's not to say there won't be writing and tests, but it should be less of the instructor speaking and more of the students working. There's a big difference between learning about something and learning how to do something.

The design of a class really depends on the equipment and classroom environment available. If there's enough of it, Vex is an excellent way to go, and the Autodesk Vex Curriculum is pretty turn-key. It takes a lot of the overhead off the (new) instructor. Throw in programming with easyC or RobotC and add in some in-class competitions, a little bit of job skills training, and you pretty much have a year class. And, it's standards-based if anyone is asking.
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Teacher/Engineer/Machinist - Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2011 - Present
Mentor/Engineer/Machinist, Team 968 RAWC, 2007-2010
Technical Mentor, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2005-2007
Student Mechanical Leader and Driver, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2002-2004

Last edited by sanddrag : 24-08-2013 at 21:39.