Trying to develop holistic curriculum. Need assistance.

[Rich Kressly]

Here's the good news ...
There are a LOT more robotics curriculum resources available today than when I started my robo journey with FRC103 back in 2000ish.

Here's a quick snapshot of robotics curriculum projects I've led over the years, with links where appropriate. While some of these could likely use updating, they are all relevant:

1. Wrote this after being part of FRC 103 for 4 years, when I was a FIRST SM. Education Standards Matching for PA/DE mapped to FIRST Programs (as they existed at the time I produced the document): http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/1898

2. Soon after founding FRC1712, I did the heavy lifting on writing the Innovation & Invention Robotics course at Lower Merion: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/1897
This course is still being taught - with some updates and there are plenty of sound ideas here.

3. Then there was an NSF-funded Technology Student Association (the other TSA) Robotics Framework project I did a ton of work on with a small team of framers: http://www.roboticsengineeringcte502..._framework.pdf
- This guy can be found in several places on the web, including as a resource for the Robotics Course for HS that is recommended by DoDEA for it's schools at US military installations worldwide: http://www.roboticsengineeringcte502...resources.html

4. The FREE VEX EDR Curriculum (for MS/HS) is VERY comprehensive, includes a CAD component with Autodesk Inventor, and has a competition robotics slant/focus, as well as providing pre-post tests, a syllabus, standards matching and more teacher resources too. As part of VERY talented team, I was one of the "heavy lifters" on the initial iteration of this curriculum and have been involved, in some way, with every iteration since. Today, it's part of my job to maintain and update this resource: http://curriculum.vexrobotics.com/

5. The FREE VEX IQ Curriculum (For ES/MS, but has a ton of K-12 implications) is probably my favorite of all of them. Think EDR Curriculum for younger classrooms and/or a standalone walkthrough curriculum for an older kid to learn from. Teacher resources, specific learning activities, rubrics, "idea book pages" that lead younger/newer students through the documentation process which becomes the Engineering Notebook, open-ended challenges, embedded videos, downloads, etc: http://vexiq.com/curriculum

If you want to spend just a few bucks you can get the hard copy books that match the online content, too: http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexiq/pro...n-guide-g.html

6. In addition to those five major projects, I'e done other work with specific school districts to help meet their individual/local needs as well and have other resources from those projects that I'd be happy to share.

7. As others have suggested, please search the rest of CD - I've used other people's stuff all the time, I'm just limiting my post to things I've been directly involved in.

In the end you need to decide what you want to accomplish with your robotics curriculum - one size does not necessarily fit all and you need to ask all the pertinent questions, which include BUT are not limited to: Do you want a K-12 progression in your schools? Just high school? Just your FRC students? Focus on Mechanical? Programming? Both? How much time do you have to teach? What's your budget for equipment and supplies?

- Personally, I believe, when you're talking curriculum on any level - initial EASE of USE and cost become the driving factors when you implement robotics curriculum. If you don't go down those roads, then you'll never reach as many students as you hope to, nor will you easily be able to engage others to help teach (whether it's a part of the school day or not).

- If I were going to start a brand new FRC team today, with no other local robotics education taking place, I'd consider grabbing a handful of VEX IQ Super Kits and maybe a set of the curriculum books (or just use the FREE online version). Even though this is geared toward younger ages, it has PLENTY of content for HS students, especially "new to robotics" students. Walk them through the pertinent units according to what you find important and how much time you have. Just for one example, The Key Concepts (http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexiq/edu...m/key-concepts) and Mechanisms (http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexiq/edu...lum/mechanisms) Units are LOADED with stuff your FRC kids will need to know well. You can also mix and match the IQ and EDR Curriculum units (http://curriculum.vexrobotics.com/curriculum) with IQ kits (to a certain extent) if you'd like more detailed, higher end learning beyond the "basics".

The FRC problem is supposed to be REALLY REALLY hard, but when it comes to inspiring through education you need as accessible and affordable an entry point as possible.

If you have any additional questions or you want to talk in more detail, I can be reached at kres@vex.com