7th graders learned about the Hummingbird robotics kit with servos, sensors, lights, and more to create a final mini golf course for their 3rd grade partners.
0 Comments
Designers also shared their new found coding skills with the teleporting duck activity as a preview of next week's Treasure Hunt with the Micro:bit.
Lastly designers had time to explore and design in Challenge Central of Makers Empire. LAUNCH of Talking Object in Flip
This project inspired by Cecilia Hillway's presentation at Make: Education Forum this past September was a challenge that required partners to work together both in their code and in their physical design. I'm going to start by showcasing the final product that was created through productive struggle.
Highlight and Fix
Create
Also plugging servos into the Bit:explorer incorrectly were aha moments. Reseting the micro:bit with a battery pack and then adding the micro:bit back to the Bit:explorer was part of the process for some teams who struggled to reach the reset button which is essential with iPads and micro:bits. Of course recognizing that a micro:bit can't be powered by a battery pack and the Bit:explorer at the same time was also an important discovery.
Navigate Ideas
Which code works better? I modeled the code that I had learned and quickly modeled how you can make mistakes. So I showed how both codes worked. No code is the only way to do something. My code has more than its share of room for improvement but it provided a starting point.
Understand
Having never done this project before, the only example that I had was the one that I created. It took me several hours to troubleshoot my design and I quickly realized that it was an important scaffold to show step by step how I created both the base of my physical design and my code.
Ask Questions
What do we need to know about the code? What do we need to know about the physical design? What do we need to know about servos? I used an edpuzzle to start building the understanding of one of the important components of the project.
Look, Listen, and Learn
Introducing the Bit:explorer as well as creating scaffolds for the use of the servo and a sample project built a beginning foundation to understand what we would be doing.
The Week's PlanA few weeks back my donor's choose project for 2 class sets of Bit:explorers was funded and today was the first day of having designers use the Bit:explorer. Preparing the Bit:ExplorerIntroducing the Bit:Explorer to DesignersSo hindsight being 20/20, I should have created an intro video to the bit:explorer instead of just handing them out. Sure I had put a preset program on each of them but I should have known the importance of overviewing a new hardware piece. Here is how I should have introduced the bit:explorer. Servos and Sound Input
Talking Code Tutorial VideoTalking Code TestScaffolding AnglesThanks to the Glowforge, I created a cardboard scaffold for the servo to sit inside. I've included the file below.
I have blogged on previous parts of this unit - Hummingbird Posts. Watching my designers engage in creative robotics using simple tools like cardboard and creating amazing robots with the integration of servos, LEDs, and sensors, has been the missing part in my curriculum. I don't want my designers to just program robots, I want them to create from the beginning to the end. In the Simple Robots Flip, you can see how designers started with iterations that quickly evolved. The designers then took their designs and shared them with their fifth grade partners. Several groups even had their partners add to their design. This unit has reinforced my belief that computer science and making are powerful tools for unleashing creativity at any age. Simple Robots Flip
This week was a highly anticipated week for me. After learning how to use the Hummingbird robotics in summer PD from Infosys and CodeJoy, I realized that this was the robotics that belonged in my classroom. After getting a Donor's Choose Flock (4 of the premium) of Hummingbirds in early January, I finally could share this powerful learning and creating journey.
My journey started in the summer but because Birdbrain has a robust PD video support program, I quickly relearned what I really didn't remember. I recognized that I wasn't going to be as dynamic as Kelsey and Matt on my first go around, so I leaned heavily on what they created and continue to provide throughCodeJoy. I am still learning too. Week 1: Introduction and LEDs
BirdBrain PD (My Edpuzzle Hack)
Already I feel more confident in bringing robotics and making into my classroom with my designers. This week ended with a challenge that we had in our PD of creating a LED mascot which designers shared in Flip. I love using Flip to capture learning.
Notes from Week 1: I do realize that a kit per two people is what I need for my classroom. I had three designers to a kit but it really allowed one of the designers to not be engaged and that is not what I want to see happening. More fundraising on the way..... Our Flip Hummingbird Designs Mixtape |
Archives
May 2024
Categories
All
|