Practical activities in robotics: hands-on or simulator? Jon Rosewell The Open University HEA STEM Annual Learning and Teaching Conference 2014: Enhancing the STEM Student Journey University of Edinburgh, 30 th April – 1 st May 2014

Learning robotics at a distance Mechatronics (T395) – –Third level/year, 30 weeks, 300 hours, 30 points –3800 students –Print & software –Practical: Home Experiment Kit

LEGO Mindstorms

Learning robotics at a distance Robotics and the meaning of life: a practical guide to things that think (T184) – –First level/year, 10 weeks, 100 hours, 10 points –2380 students –Website, DVD & book –Practical: LEGO kit or simulator

OU-RobotLab

Survey Questions: 6 background, 8 on attitudes, free comment 918 returns, 32 pages of comments How can you best learn about robotics? I can learn all I need by reading the web site and books The practical labs may sometimes help me learn The practical labs are useful The practical labs are essential How can you best learn about robotics? I can learn all I need by reading the web site and books The practical labs may sometimes help me learn The practical labs are useful The practical labs are essential

Best way to learn robotics? : n=

Have access to LEGO kit? 2004: n=56; : n=918

Use the LEGO kit? 2004: n=51+39

Learn as much with simulator as with hardware? 2004: n=47+36

Learn as much with simulator as with hardware? : n=

A simulation can get you very close to the real thing but for the real world, you must have practical knowledge. I eventually gave up on Pedro [kit robot] as it was apparent that I could get all the understanding that I wanted just by using Simon [simulated robot].

Quickest way to learn? : n=

Simulator for testing? : n=

I borrowed [a kit] from a friend at the beginning of the course. [Later] I used just the simulator which I preferred due to time and available working space, less clutter. Working with the simulator supports and enhances work carried out with hardware. Running code on simulator then migrating to hardware…tweaks are needed, however still a very useful exercise.

I have really enjoyed the course, it was great fun and quite thought provoking – what more can you ask! Programming is not my thing although I did enjoy the practical labwork. I found RobotLab a bit tedious and failed to see the point of it. A brilliant course!