Developing problem-solving teaching materials based upon Microsoft's Robotics Studio

School: Science and Technology

Key Contact: Dr Scott Turner

Overview

Preliminary work within the team (Turner and Hill, 2006), suggests that using LEGO robots within the teaching of problem solving has some benefits to the students. The main benefit being the students believe that robots provide a method to visually and physically see the outcome of a problem. These types of robots have been used previously for teaching programming to computing students (e.g. Lawhead et al, 2003) and team-working for engineering students (e.g. Price et al 2003). It is the teaching of problem-solving within a first year programming module, the role of using robotics is currently under investigation.

A limiting factor to the approach is availability and numbers of the robots. It is not possible for the robot kits to be available 24 hours a day or to taken home by the students. The focus for this project is to develop the material further into on-line learning packs concerned with problem-solving in first year computing courses. Instead of the robots kits, use Microsoft's Robotics Studio as the basis of the material. This has been selected to still keep some of the advantages of the robot-based approach but increase flexibility of where and when the student's can use the material.

• Lawhead PB, Bland CG, Barnes DJ, Duncan ME, Goldweber M, Hollingsworth RG, Schep M(2003), A Road Map for Teaching Introductory Programming Using LEGO Mindstorms Robots SIGCSE Bulletin, 35(2): 191-201
• Price BA, Richards M, Petre M, Hirst A and Johnson J(2003), Developing robotics e-teaching for teamwork, Int. J. Cont. Engineering Education and Lifelong Learning, Vol. 13 Nos1/2
• Turner S and Hill G (2006) The Inclusion Of Robots Within The Teaching Of Problemsolving: Preliminary Results Proceedings of 7th Annual Conference of the ICS HE Academy Trinity College, Dublin, 29th - 31st August 2006 Proceedings pg 241-242 ISBN 0-9552005-3-9

Outcomes