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Robotics
The robotics aspect of the Visualization Basics program allows students to engage in simple programming. As students engage in two- and three-dimensional activities, their computational thinking (CT) and spatial visualization (SV) skills improve along with their perceptions of STEM, which are all important for success in STEM. While prior research exists on children's robotics activities, few have made connections between culturally responsive pedagogy and computational thinking (CRP and CT). Cultural artifacts, symbols, and attributes can be incorporated into robotics as students reflect on cultural considerations and design features such as color, style, shape, voice technology, music, etc. For example, a sports theme may be used to develop a robotics task to draw both male and female students into robotics afterschool clubs. As another example, given that interest in gymnastics has increased since Gabby Douglas won gold medals at the 2012 summer Olympic games, LEGO EV3 robotics kits may be used to program robots to perform gymnastics routines, such as rotating on a parallel bar. After the 2014 winter Olympics, students may also be interested in figure skating. The research team can create a program where the robot draws an image of a triple lutz on butcher paper. Additionally, musical scores are commonplace in both gymnastics and ice-skating routines. To that end, Classical, Country, Hip-Hop (including Aboriginal Hip-Hop) or R&B music may be played during these robotics routines, to tap youth culture. Such tasks embed multiple layers of culture and have the potential to increase students cognition and attitude toward STEM. Want to learn more? Here's a sample syllabus: *Click magnifying glass to zoom.
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Robotics Course Highlights:
Robotics Contacts
Dr. Alan Buss
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Apply today to join the Visualization Basics Project! We are accepting applications from teachers who will work with upper elementary and middle school students in an afterschool program to design games and program robotics to prompt children's interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) using culturally responsive pedagogy. Teachers will receive credits and a stipend. Robotics teams may compete in local First Robotics League competitions. Students will take field trips to the National Center for Atmospheric Research facility in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Teachers will receive stipends and graduate education credits.
The project is facilitated by a collaborative team of mathematics, science and computer science faculty at the University of Wyoming, Western Wyoming Community College, and The University of Southern Indiana. This grant is funded by the National Science Foundation. For more information, or to enroll in Year 3: |
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Welcome to the Visualization Basics: uGame-iCompute Project!