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Re: Materials for a robotics class of 30
I have been out of the loop with Vex for a while, but it is certainly looking like a very attractive option. What I like most is there's a lot of curriculum available for it from various sources.
Am I correct in saying everything is moving to Vexnet and the Cortex controller, if we wanted to actually compete? I wouldn't want to have a lot of money tied up in PIC controllers that couldn't be used in actual competition. I want to make sure the money is spent on new, up-to-date technologies that will be used for at least a couple years to come. However, I think the school has about 8 PIC kits already.
It seems like there are a a lot of differences between the PIC and the Cortex classroom kits, regarding quantity, pricing, and what's included. It's a little confusing at first read.
I'm wondering what the best way to structure this would be. I run a year-long course of two sections of approximately 30 students each. I would like students to be able to continue building and programming over several class periods, without their work being undone by the other section. I don't think we'd have the funding for materials to have 60 people doing Vex simultaneously. So, I'm thinking it would need to be semester long, with one section getting Vex first semester, and the other section getting it second semester. Perhaps 10 Classroom Kits for a class of 30 would work.
Also, to do this well, is there more that is needed beyond the Classroom kits? What about the advanced sensors kit?
Does anyone have a comprehensive product/purchasing list for what they use in their structured Vex program for a large number of students?
Basically, I have a one-chance shot to do this purchase of materials for the entire school year. Now, it does have to be approved, but I want to make sure nothing useful gets left out, because there will be no chance to add things later.
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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
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