Robots in Science Education

The Point of Departure There has been a groundswell of interest in incorporating “robotics” into curriculum with the stated aim of engaging students in STEM and providing an opportunity for students to develop coding skills. The Science Department is charged with delivering curriculum across the subject areas of Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Earth and Space Sciences as well as the Cross Curricular Priorities. Any use of robotics must then enhance rather than compete with these areas of core business in an already crowded curriculum. It is for this reason we have looked beyond the bots and buggies typically seen in school STEM / STEAM / Robotics / Engineering programs. Instead we have asked… “What is robotics anyway?”

Automata The idea of automata originates in the mythologies of many cultures around the world. Engineers and inventors from ancient civilizations, including Ancient China, Ancient Greece, and Ptolemaic Egypt, attempted to build self-operating machines, some resembling animals and humans. automaton plural noun: automata A moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being. Early descriptions of automata include the artificial doves of Archytas, the artificial birds of Mozi and Lu Ban, a "speaking" automaton by Hero of Alexandria, a washstand automaton by Philo of Byzantium, and a human automaton described in the Lie Zi. Wilikpedia

Robots accept electronic programming, process data or physical perceptions electronically, operate autonomously to some degree, move around, operate physical parts of itself or physical processes, sense and manipulate their environment, and exhibit intelligent behavior — especially behavior which mimics humans or other animals. There is no consensus on which machines qualify as robots but there is general agreement among experts, and the public, that robots tend to possess some or all of the following abilities and functions:

How Science can use Robotics The business of Science is the development of theoretical models that fit experimental observation. Science education, in exploring the models fundamental to each subject area, supports students to recreate many of the observations that have been key to the development of these models. The opportunity for Science students to use robotics, is in the development of sensors and control systems that enhance the quality of primary data available to them in their investigations. Arduino sensors: temperature, humidity, sound, IR, light,

The Robotics in Science Project @ CSHS Consultation – Initial discussion with Daniel Mabb Planning – Development of The Science Approach and the trial project Purchase equipment – 10 x Arduino boards, sensors and misc equipment ($400) Staff Development – 2 x sessions introducing boards and coding basics Trial Project – Year 10 Excel Commencing Week 4 Term 4 2016 Review – End of term 4 Implementation – Pending outcome of review – Excel classes 7-10 2017

The Science Approach Teach students to program an Arduino circuit board to control, receive and record input from a variety of sensors Use these sensors to collect physical data in the existing experimental investigations already incorporated into the science curriculum.