Integrating Technology for Science Classes
Technology Teaching Strategies for Grades 7 through 12
Technology Tools
This section of our site will explore one of the uses of technology tools that are available to science teachers. Even though there are multitudes of different types of tech-tools available, science teachers should have the opportunity to explore what tools are right for their students and grade levels.
Technology Tools Highlight: Robotic Kits

Even though we are living in an age where students and teachers are constantly using computers, it is still important to have projects and tools for your students that are hands on. Robotic kits are tools that science teachers can use that will get their students to use their hands and minds and help prepare some of them for careers in fields like engineering. There are a variety of these types of kits ranging from the easier 7th to 9th Grade levels and extending into the more exotic and complex kits that integrate software and other tools for grades 10 through 12.

robots

Integration Strategy : Using a Robo Pica 2.0

This robotic kit combines hands on building and design as well as software programming. This kit can provide students the opportunity to think through a lesson in engineering design while requiring them to know, learn and use a computer programming language so that the can program the device that they have built. This kit also provides teachers the opportunity to give their students the hands of experience of using and working with a microprocessor

Relative Advantage of Using a Robotics Kit: Building a complex machine will help students apply their text book knowledge with hands on experience. This is another tool that can promote collaboration between students while allowing them to design and build projects together. This also adds the caveat of being part of a team and working together. Students will also be using more than just text book knowledge in their quest to design and build a working model using different aspects of technology. Some of the challenges the students will address are; using different interfaces of technology to program the robots, building and design principals for robotics and working with integrated circuits.

Expected Outcome of Using Robotics Kits: Along with the hands on experience of building and programming a designed robot there are other cognitive processes like critical thinking skills that students can use.  Students interested in engineering can also work on collaborations as they divide up the various tasks associated with complex lessons and projects of this nature.  Students will need to actually design and use planning skills, programming skills, data collection strategies as well as teamwork and goal setting.  This type of learning also promotes self-esteem through hard work and a sense of accomplishment.


Resources and Links:

Carl’s Electronic Kits –  (http://www.electronickits.com/robot/ibm007.htm) This Web site has a wide variety of  Robotic kits that address a variety of grade levels and skills.  This business also sells other electronic learning items, like testing kits and learning modules and books.

The Science E-store - (http://www.physlink.com/estore/cart/RobotKits.cfm)- This is a site that sells all sorts of scientific kits as well as a wide variety of robotic kits and learning modules.  This is a site that students and teachers will find a joy to peruse because of the volume and variety of learning products they sell.

Learn About Robots.Com (http://www.learnaboutrobots.com/) This is a site that acts as a repository of information about robotics.  It covers all sorts of articles on the subject of robots to include: Industrial uses, research, entertainment, robotic bugs, undersea research and much more.  Every serious student or teacher of this subject should find this resource valuable.