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Chapter 1: Introduction
This book is a guide for teachers implementing a robotics unit in the classroom. It
is aimed at middle years schooling (ages 9 - 15) but the wide range of activities can
be adapted to suit older or younger students. The book is based around a single
robot, the RileyRover, which is used in all activities. This approach is valuable in
resource limited classrooms, as it allows the teacher to work with a 'standard'
robot, rather than using valuable classroom time building and breaking down
robots each lesson. The RileyRover design can be found at the back of the book,
as well as being freely available online – www.damienkee.com. Please send me an
email and let me know if you are using the design!
All activities are based around the 45544 LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 core set. While the
activities can be performed with the EV3 brick from Retail or Education, the building instructions have
been compiled with the 45544 set in mind.
It is assumed that the teacher has a basic knowledge of how to open the EV3 programming environment
and how to download a program to the EV3 unit. Please see the excellent tutorials built into the EV3
software environment for more information.
The book is divided into sections that follow a 10 week plan, although this can be modified to suit the
needs of the teacher. The first 6 weeks takes students through a series of activities, progressively exposing
them to new aspects of the EV3 programming environment. Following is a set of open ended challenges
from which teachers may pick and choose to suit their particular class.
All challenges follow a similar structure:
Scenario setup + background information. Teachers are free to develop each scenario further as
they see fit.
Equipment list. Aside from the standard EV3 robotics kit, all other required resources are easily
sourced within a school environment.
Teacher notes are provided on common issues that may arise with each challenge and how they are
best dealt with.
Programming examples in the EV3 software environment.
Student worksheets to fill out (photocopy / print permission is provided).
Extension activities.
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