Robotics 4 - EdRobo Claw

This afternoon was the best camp day yet!  We all successfully built the Ed Robo Claw.  We had fun driving our robo claws with the remote control.  The kids set up their own game where they had to pick up pieces and deliver them to either the recycling center or the garbage dump.

 Then we started a new programming challenge. Using EdBlocks we attempted to program our Robot Claw to deliver a container of toxic waste to a secure location and return back to camp. 

We got really close to being successful with many different groups but had to cut time short in order to clean up successfully.  Since we now know we can clean up successfully we can have a little more time working out our code challenge tomorrow.  Here is a speed build of the Robo Claw and some class videos.  Try, try again is certainly the motto of robotics! I encourage you to try again at home and see if you can figure out the code.

Robotics 4 - EdDigger

This afternoon Robotics 4 jumped right into the EdDigger build.  We found it was easier the second day even though the build was labeled as just as hard as the first day's build.

 Everyone was successful in building the EdDigger before snack and recess time.  After recess we talked about different coding options and then left it open to each kid to play with their EdDigger, rebuild the EdTank, create their own creation, and/or work on coding their builds with EdBlocks.

At the end of the day I asked everyone to sort their bag of Lego compatible bricks and it was surprisingly difficult for many kids.  Please, please work with your children at home to follow the back of the package and count the bricks to get the appropriate bricks in the bag.  It's an important organizational skill.

Here is the speed build of the EdDigger with a few videos from our class today:

Robotics 4 - EdTank

Robotics 4 is a week long camp where we learn to use two Edison robots together and connect them with Lego compatible bricks and gears.  Today we worked through how to program Edison to respond to a remote control and then built the EdTank.

Here is a quick build of the EdTank and a few short videos of our group playing with it at the end.

 The pieces are more difficult to use than Lego brand pieces so there were definitely frustrating moments today.  I was impressed with how students worked through challenges and helped each other.

 When students finished the build they were able to play with the EdTank and the remote control.  Then they were issued a programming challenge.  Their EdTank is a fire engine and the rubber band it shoots is a water bomb to put out a fire.  We drew a "Base Camp" and used EdBlocks to try and write a program where Edison could drive to the fire, shoot the water bomb, and then drive back to camp.  Have your student try this at home.  Draw the "map" on a large piece of paper or cardboard and work through the EdBlocks code to find a solution.  It will take two different programs for the two robots to talk together and work in unison. If your child creates a solution please share it with me!  I'd love to see pictures and/or video!

Summer Robotics 2 Day 3

This afternoon the Robotics 2 camp finished up with a dance a party.  We reviewed computational thinking and how we will be more successful if we work out one piece of code at a time. Then we jumped into our challenge of using all 4 drive directions to make Edison dance.  I was impressed with how many different varieties of turns, twists, speed, and length of time were used.  The kids thought it was fantastic that they could pick a favorite song, I could play it over the speaker system, and they could have their Edison "dance" to the music.

 Our dance code was a fun adventure in creative coding. I could see the "choreography" happening in some student's minds as they thought about how they would like Edison to move to a Greatest Showman song or how would Edison do the Floss dance?

 After our break we learned how to make Edison turn on and off his lights.  We played around with the code to make Edison dance and turn on and off the lights. Our main coding focus today was on the Loop block, which makes the code repeat either a set number of times or forever.  The kids discovered the Look block on Wednesday so it was fairly easy for them to incorporate it into their dancing code. We even learned that you can put a Loop block around a few blocks, add more blocks, and put a loop block around all of it.

We had an amazing time learning together.  It was a ton of fun to watch the kids become confident in loading code onto Edison and playing around with writing the code.  It is awesome that Edison is open ended so all these kids can go home and continue creating new code challenges for their Edison.  Here are some example challenges to get your kids to do (or come up with your own!): 

• Drive around and obstacle, such as a cup or pencil case
• Drive around the border of a desk without driving off the edge
• Create a maze on a large piece of paper
• Create a maze using building blocks

Share with me what amazing challenge you can make your Edison do!  Share a video, pictures, or even just text on Facebook.com/InitiateLearning  I can't wait to see what you can accomplish! 

Summer MakerSpace - Paper Circuits

These kids did some amazing work with paper circuits today.  Each child created their own paper circuits book to demonstrate a simple circuit, a parallel circuit, and a switch.  We used copper tape and LED stickers.  We'd make the circuit on a blank page and then turn back a page and draw a design that incorporated the light that was shining through the paper.

 We talked about how a simple circuit can only power one light and how a parallel circuit can have as many lights as there is space.  We talked about the positive and negative sides of a battery and how they have to match up to the correct end on the sticker lights.

 Then we dove into crafting and creating.  With all the supplies available students worked on helicopters, message delivery systems, pencil holders, cards, and art.  They all did a fantastic job!

Summer Robotics 1 Wrap Up

Robotics 1 was so full of energy on day 2!  I love how they learned enough from day 1 to be able to jump right in to playing and exploring on day 2. One of the hardest parts of learning to use Edison is simply remembering which buttons to push and when in order to control him.  I was impressed with this group of kids coming right back into it and helping each other remember how to scan the program barcodes and make it play. 

 Day 2 of Robotics 1 reviews the three main parts of a robot (computer, sensors, actuators) and compares robots to remote controlled toys.  We had such a fun discussion about if certain machines were robots or just machines.  Then, we played with a remote controlled car and remote controlled dinosaur.  We mostly tried to make them fight each other.  That seemed like the obvious choice.  There were so many giggles and so much energy it was contagious. 

 After discussing robots versus remote controlled toys and machines we moved into programming more with Edison.  We programmed him to follow a light and to drive on a black line. We broke into teams and created maps for Edison to drive on. The kids worked so cooperatively on this project.

 At the end of the day we learned to have Edison bounce within drawn borders and then sumo wrestle another robot.  To wrap up our camp we talked about all the different things we learned and shared our favorite parts of the camp. We had an absolute blast learning and exploring robots together.  Every student took their robot home at the end of the day along with their workbook of barcodes.  I've already heard back from families that were amazed how much their child came home and talked their ears off about robots!

Thank you to this wonderful class for coming to play with me!

Robotics 2 - Day 3 - Spring Break 2018 Camp

This afternoon the Robotics 2 camp finished up with a dance a party. Literally. 

Ha!  That makes me laugh because my 9 year old uses "literally" ALL. THE. TIME. and incorrectly, of course.  Anyway, we jumped right into our challenge of using all 4 maneuvers we've already learned within one map: drive forward, turn, follow a line, and stop at a black line.  I shared one map from Wednesday that was the closest I've seen yet for this assignment and with a little bit of talking through why it wouldn't work quite right we had all three teams successfully complete the challenge.  They were the first teams ever to complete this challenge (since I've been teaching it) and they all got there!  I LOVE how everyone worked together to help troubleshoot maps and programs.  It was also interesting how they all coded the program different even though their maps were very similar. 

 Then we got to the business of dancing - well, making Edison dance.  This is where Robotics 2 takes a turn for the more creative side of coding.  Instead of following a preset code students were encouraged to create their own code to dance Edison around the floor.  One group of students even made a production of three Edison bots on a stage (previously made in Makerspace).  All set to the song "Everything is Awesome" from the LEGO movie.

This class was amazing to work with this week.  I learned a bunch of new things from them and I know they learned a bunch this week as well!  Have a fantastic time playing with your Edison robots and hopefully I'll see you again this summer!

Looking for summer robotics?  Below are your options and registration can be found here: Initiate Learning Summer Camp Registration

Makerspace - Spring Break 2018 Camp - Day 2

I LOVE day 2 of Makerspace camp!  We have just enough information under our belts to start REALLY exploring and challenging our maker selves.  We dove right in to partially completed projects and brand new projects all over the room.  The kids were AMAZING at helping each other by teaching what they knew and troubleshooting together.  By the end of the day we even had two "shops" complete with signs that invited other kids to come to them for help.

 Today there were many items using simple DC motors and many more air powered items.  I was really impressed with the creativity of building a "drill" and took the opportunity to teach about switches in order to conveniently turn on and off a machine.  Up to this point we've only used alligator clips and simply disconnected our wiring manually to turn things off.  Makerspace is absolutely amazing for this type of real life, applicable to the moment teaching.  A number of kids gathered around naturally while I started explaining how the switch works and how we wire it into our circuit.  Just a short while later switches were showing up in many creations.

 In Makerspace we fail.  A lot. Wires break off their soldier spots, balloons pop, gears don't line up well enough to work together under power, and yet we keep trying.  Sometimes an idea is abandoned and left to the trash can or to be scavenged for parts later.  Sometimes it just takes talking to the right person to brainstorm a new way to approach the problem.

 We now have an army of crafters.  Today I also brought out the colored masking tape - a crafter's paradise.

 The megaphone announcements may have been a bit much for my ears but all the creators followed my instructions to set them away until parents came - sorry parents, hopefully not many of them made it home...

 Overall, Makerspace was a smashing success.  Within the two day camp we saw collaboration, exploration, creative thinking, and authentic problem solving.  We saw students become masters and share their knowledge with others.  We saw students engaging in creative projects and stretching beyond their comfort zones.  In Makerspace we value creativity.  Want to join us for the summer session?  Though titled the same thing each session is completely different.  This summer we'll be adding LED lights to our circuits using both paper circuits on origami and wired circuits for the ever popular cardboard creations.  Join us!

Robotics 1 - Day 2 - Spring Break 2018

Spring Break Robotics 1 was so full of energy this morning.  I love how they learned enough from day 1 to be able to jump right in to playing and exploring on day 2.One of the hardest parts of learning to use Edison is simply remembering which buttons to push and when in order to control him.  I was impressed with this group of kids coming right back into it and helping each other remember how to scan the program barcodes and make it play. 

Day 2 of Robotics 1 reviews the three main parts of a robot (computer, sensors, actuators) and compares robots to remote controlled toys.  We had such a fun discussion about if certain machines were robots or just machines.  The most lively discussion was about if phones are robots or not.  Even adults can't agree on that one (smart phones do technically have all three components of robots). During this discussion one of the 7 year old boys said, "I've been studying this stuff for years now." It was a good chuckle.  

After discussing robots versus remote controlled toys and machines we moved into programming more with Edison.  We programmed him to follow a light and to drive on a black line. We broke into teams and created maps for Edison to drive on. The kids worked so cooperatively on this project and the three completely different ideas for maps amazed me: a farm/city, a science house, and Egypt.

At the end of the day we learned to have Edison bounce within drawn borders and then sumo wrestle another robot.  To wrap up our camp we completed our KWL page that we started on day one and wrote down all the things we learned. We had an absolute blast learning and exploring robots together.  Every student took their robot home at the end of the day along with their workbook of barcodes.  I've already heard back from families that were amazed how much their child came home and talked their ears off about robots!

Thank you to this wonderful class for coming and playing with us!