FIRST Lego Robotics in Middle School STEM Education

July 6 – July 10, 2009
Instructor: Dr. James Carroll, Associate Professor Electrical &Computer Engineering
This hands-on, five day workshop is appropriate for any 4th-7th grade teacher who is interested in learning more about building and programming robots. Teachers who are considering coaching a FLL team, Science Olympiad coaches or teachers who are interested in integrating robotics into the classroom are welcome to attend this workshop. Returning FLL coaches are also invited to attend. Building and programming robots is a highly interdisciplinary activity that involves creative problem solving, teamwork, leadership, and project management.

A series of hands-on project experiences that considers the experience and specific interests of the teachers will familiarize participants with the design and construction of autonomous robots using LEGO Mindstorms NXT kits and software languages such as RoboLab, to program the NXT robot’s motors and sensors. Best practices and methodologies associated with coaching robotics competitions such as FIRST Lego League and the introduction of robotics into the classroom for grades 4 through 7 will be addressed throughout. A final engineering design challenge will prepare participants to coach, e.g., a FIRST Lego League (FLL) team, within their schools during the Fall semester of 2009, including an FLL tournament sponsored by the St. Lawrence BOCES and Clarkson University in December 2009.