skip navigation

Technology & Engineering Resources


Robotics Curriculum Guide

This module allows the instructor to teach basic electronic control with some elements of programming logic. It allows for student explorations into mechanics. The lessons teach principles in mechanical advantage, measurement, ratios, and proportions. This website is associated with the Robotics Academy, and it is to be used with the Robotics Educator CD-ROM.

Format Online
Grades 6 – 8
Author Robin Shoop
Source/Publisher Carnegie Mellon University
ISBN n/a
Shelving Location E 629.8
Location n/a
Website Robotics Curriculum Guide
Duration 3, 6, or 9 week modules

Robotics Curriculum Guide

+ View Detailed Standard Connections

Primary Connections:

MA Science and Technology/Engineering Framework (2006)
(Massachusetts)

  • Technology/Engineering > Engineering Design (Grade: 6 – 8)
  • Technology/Engineering > Communication Technologies (Grade: 6 – 8)
  • Technology/Engineering > Communication Technologies (Grade: 6 – 8)
  • Technology/Engineering > Transportation Technologies (Grade: 6 – 8)

Secondary Connections:

MA Science and Technology/Engineering Framework (2006)
(Massachusetts)

  • Technology/Engineering > Engineering Design (Grade: 6 – 8)
  • Technology/Engineering > Communication Technologies (Grade: 6 – 8)
  • Technology/Engineering > Manufacturing Technologies (Grade: 6 – 8)

– View Concise Standard Connections

Primary Connections:

MA Science and Technology/Engineering Framework (2006)
(Massachusetts)

  • Technology/Engineering > 2.1 Engineering Design (Grade: 6 – 8)
    Identify and explain the steps of the engineering design process, i.e., identify the need or problem, research the problem, develop possible solutions, select the best possible solution(s), construct a prototype, test and evaluate, communicate the solution(s), and redesign.
  • Technology/Engineering > 3.1 Communication Technologies (Grade: 6 – 8)
    Identify and explain the components of a communication system, i.e., source, encoder, transmitter, receiver, decoder, storage, retrieval, and destination.
  • Technology/Engineering > 3.4 Communication Technologies (Grade: 6 – 8)
    Identify and explain how symbols and icons (e.g., international symbols and graphics) are used to communicate a message.
  • Technology/Engineering > 6.3 Transportation Technologies (Grade: 6 – 8)
    Identify and describe three subsystems of a transportation vehicle or device, i.e., structural, propulsion, guidance, suspension, control, and support.

Secondary Connections:

MA Science and Technology/Engineering Framework (2006)
(Massachusetts)

  • Technology/Engineering > 2.3 Engineering Design (Grade: 6 – 8)
    Describe and explain the purpose of a given prototype.
  • Technology/Engineering > 3.0 Communication Technologies (Grade: 6 – 8)
    Broad Concept: Ideas can be communicated though engineering drawings, written reports, and pictures.
  • Technology/Engineering > 4.2 Manufacturing Technologies (Grade: 6 – 8)
    Explain and give examples of the impacts of interchangeable parts, components of mass-produced products, and the use of automation, e.g., robotics.

Robotics Curriculum Guide

Evaluated on July 30, 2004

40% STL standards met
2/4 Usability score
3/4 Educator Support Score
Activity Type
100% Open-ended
0% Guided
0% Recipe
Design Approach
0% Full-scale
100% Scaffolded
0% Redesign, modify, improve
0% Investigate
0% Practical warm-up
Assessment Type
0% Paper and pencil tests
71% Open-ended questions
0% Portfolios, records, or journal
29% Performance based
0% Interview
0% Student presentation
0% Discussions
86% Other

Comments:

This evaluation of Robotics Educator is based on the 9 week curriculum - there are options cited for 1, 3, or 6 weeks as well. The Lego Mindstorms Robotics equipment offers a rich opportunity to address the Science, Technology, and Engineering standards. This curriculum was designed to help teachers utilize Lego Mindstorm.The CD-ROM and curriculum guide are a rough collection of lessons and design challenges, that unfortunately are poorly organized and difficult to navigate. The CD-ROM includes lots of presentation materials, handouts, worksheets, rubrics, and answer keys. It does not necessarily provide background information for teachers, nor does it address the need for teacher training prior to implementing the curriculum. The design of the lessons does not provide enough opportunity for student creativity. They are very recipe-like.

Robotics Curriculum Guide

Schedules

This event has no schedules within the next 30 days.

View full schedule.

Robotics Curriculum Guide

List of Related Offerings


The Robotics Academy
The National Robotics Engineering Consortium maintained by Carnegie Mellon University offers curriculum and activities for teaching robotics. This link offers a free online curriculum created in 2000. The curriculum covers topics such as light, electricity, friction, ratios and speed. (details)

Cahners ComputerPlace
Cahners ComputerPlace — your portal into the digital world: Bytes! - Build your own computer model at the "Computer Build Bench." - Chat with Ada and Grace, our new virtual human guides, and go behind the scenes at "InterFaces" (follow link above to enter the virtual exhibit). This is a collaboration ... (details)

Fluid Power Systems
Students design and build a hydraulically operated robot arm. Using the World Wide Web, students gain background information about fluid principles, hydraulics, pneumatics, and mechanical advantage. At the conclusion of their research, students construct a prototype that satisfies a given list of criteria ... (details)

The TEC Review is funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Small Business Administration.