FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Workshop for 7th-12th Grade Teachers

July 27 – July 31, 2009
Instructors: Dr. James Carroll, Assoc. Prof Electrical & Computer Engineering
This hands-on Summer Institute is appropriate for any 7th-12th grade teacher interested in integrating robotics into the classroom. Teachers who are considering coaching an FTC or Science Olympiad team, as well as veteran coaches who would like a refresher on robot building or programming are welcome to attend this workshop. Building and programming robots is a highly interdisciplinary activity that develops creative problem solving, teamwork, leadership, and project management skills. A series of hands-on project experiences will familiarize participants with the design and construction of both autonomous and teleoperated robots using the new LEGO FTC Robotics kits and the associated software, e.g., Robolab, LabVIEW for NXT, RobotC, and NXT-G, to program the robots’ motors and sensors. Best practices and methodologies associated with coaching robotics competitions such as FIRST Tech Challenge and the introduction of robotics into grades 7 through 12 will be addressed throughout. A final engineering design challenge will prepare participants to coach, e.g., a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team, within their schools during the Fall semester of 2009, including an local FLL tournament sponsored by the St. Lawrence BOCES and Clarkson University in December 2009.