The inclusion of robots within problem-solving

Title

The inclusion of Robots within problem-solving

School/Department

Science and Technology

Key contact

Dr Scott Turner

Overview of project

Using Mindstorms robotic kits within the teaching of problem-solving. These kits have been widely used in teaching of programming. Here the focus is on their use in developing problem-solving skills before the students are taught a programming language. The context of this activity is to be delivered to the 1st year computing students (groups coming from Software Engineering, Computer Systems and Internet Computing courses.) Funded by the Computing Subject Centre.

More information on The inclusion of Robots within problem-solving

Final report is now available from the Subject Centre for Information and Computer Sciences

Extension to the project

Following on from the above project we aim to create web-based teaching resources using Mindstorms robotic kits within the teaching of problem-solving classes to engineering undergraduates. The focus is on their use in developing problem-solving and creativity skills in an interesting and enjoyable way. The overall aim of the project is to improve problem-solving skills, and to encourage creative solutions to problems by developing or adapting a series of very practical and enjoyable activities. These activities will involve the use of Lego Mindstorm robots. Funded by the Engineering Subject Centre. This project extension represents a sharing of practice across two disciplines.

Project co-ordinators

Jonathan Adams and Dr Scott Turner

Timeframe: 2005/06

Further extension to the project

Aims

The overall aim of this project is to provide shareable modular course content using RLOs that can be used to develop transferrable graduate skills relating to problem solving and creative thinking in engineering students.

This will be met by the following objectives:

The creation of a series of interactive and shareable learning objects relating to the transferable key skills required to be able to problem solve effectively, and to stimulate critical and creative thinking
Creation of a number of context specific objects relating to the Lego NXT Robots, and the Lego NXT-G graphical software
Evaluation of the use of these discrete objects to form a coherent module in which the objects are used as mediation tools in the problem solving and creativity processes around a central theme; a Lego NXT Robot challenge

Project outcomes

This project will extend the previous project by making available a number of learning objects relating to engineering graduate skills that may be used within other engineering courses and modules, and potentially in other disciplines. It will also make available a number of core objects relating to the Lego NXT Robots that may be used within engineering, and that may be of use in other situations or disciplines.

The project will aim to establish the potential for the use of discrete objects for the construction of a module, where that these objects will be used as mediation tools to shape students' thinking and problem solving skills around a central theme.

Following evaluation, these objects will be made available through the Engineering Subject Centre or other recognised repositories.