1. Scientific Research A Vehicle for a Tennessee High School Robotics Class Created by: Frank Wood Science Chair L&N STEM Academy frank.wood@knoxschools.org

2. Introduction “Our nation’s economic future depends upon improving the pipeline into the STEM fields…,” in a report written for the Department of Labor. 9 Robotics is an exciting avenue to generate student interest in STEM occupations. The “Scientific Research” standards 7 will be utilized to create a compliant research course that focuses on robotics.

3. Course Sequence Unit 1 – Research Methodology Unit 2 – Collaboration Methods Unit 3 – Ethics are Essential Unit 4 – Safety is a Requirement Unit 5 – Research Proposal Unit 6 – Project Construction Unit 7 – Research Report

4. Unit 1 – Research Methodology Standards: CLE 3295.T/E.2, CLE 3295.3.3 7 The Stanford dSchool Design 15 process is explained and utilized. Example research projects are examined by student teams and suggested procedures are shared via whiteboard. The specific statistical methods required are detailed. "Fail fast, succeed sooner" David Kelley founder of Stanford d.school

5. Unit 2 – Collaboration Method Standard: CLE 3295.T/E.3 7 Students are taught to use SketchUp 8 (a 3d drawing tool) to share design ideas. Students are taught the rules of collaboration

6. Unit 3 – Ethics are Essential Standards: CLE 3295.T/E.1, CLE 3295.1.4 7 Students learn an object lesson in ethics while viewing “The Dark Secret of Hendrik Schön ” 2 and completing a companion worksheet. Students teams read and summarize the central ideas of the “Code of Ethics for Engineers” 13 using white boards. A teacher-led discussion follows this activity.

7. Unit 4 – Safety is a Requirement Standards: CLE 3295.1.5 7 First Robotics has developed a detailed safety manual. 3 Students teams read the safety manual and compete in an instructor led game of safety scenarios. Each team completes a safety checklist for the robotics lab. Students have the option to complete the 2013 FRC Safety Video 4 contest for extra credit.

8. Unit 5 – Research Proposal Standards: CLE 3295.2.2, CLE 3295.T/E.4, CLE 3295.2.3, CLE 3295.2.4, CLE 3295.3.1, CLE 3295.3.4 7 Students develop a research proposal that includes: A working hypothesis. An affirmation to follow safety protocol Technological/non-technological tools utilized Limitations of this research Impact of this research The project timetable.

9. Unit 6 – Project Construction Standards: CLE 3295.3.2, CLE 3295.4.1, CLE 3295.1.2, CLE 3295.1.1, CLE 3295.1.3, CLE 3295.4.2, CLE 3295.4.3 7 Weekly Progress meetings will be scored using a rubric to include: Deviations from proposal. Statistical methods used. Further questions for study. Safety issues encountered or expected. Recording and storing of data. Demonstrated understanding of the project.

10. Unit 7 – Research Report Standards: CLE 3295.3.2, CLE 3295.4.1, CLE 3295.1.2, CLE 3295.1.1, CLE 3295.1.3, CLE 3295.4.2, CLE 3295.4.3 7 Student research projects will produce tangible results; a part, program, or sub-system. Students deliver a PowerPoint presentation to their piers that covers the scope of their project. The format of this report will be consistent with the requirements of the English curriculum.

11. Conclusions Existing student involvement in First Robotics is a clear indicator of the potential success of this program. It combines the sense of accomplishment received when an individual accomplishes a goal, with the pedagogical imperative to unite existing studies with tangible results. The completed SyllabusSyllabus

12. Bibliography Page 1 1. Autodesk (2012). Inventor - 2D CAD Software. Autodesk Inventor Products. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http://usa.autodesk.com/autodesk-http://usa.autodesk.com/autodesk- inventor/ 2. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Web site 1 (2004). The dark secret of Hendrik Schön—transcript. Broadcast: 5 February 2004. Transcript available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2004/hendrikshontrans.shtml (URL accessed 07/12/2010). 3. First Robotics (2012). First Robotics Competition Team Safety Manual. (2012nd ed.). Manchester, New Hampshire/United States: FRC. 4. First Robotics (2012, July 12). About Us. First. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/vision 5. Google (2012, January 23). SketchUp Getting Started Guide. Google. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/answer.pyhttp://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/answer.py? hl=en&answer=36213 6. HR Policy Association (2011). Blueprint For Jobs In The 21st Century. Washington, DC/United States: HR Policy Association.

13. Bibliography Page 2 7. State of Tennessee (2008, January). SCI_3295. Curriculum Standards - TN Department of Education. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http://www.state.tn.us/education/ci/sci/index.shtml 8. Trimble (2012, April 26). Trimble Sketchup. Trimble Sketchup. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http://sketchup.google.com/ 9. Jobs for the Future (2007, April). The STEM Workforce Challenge:the Role of the Public Workforce System in a National Solution for a Competitive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce. doleta.gov. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http://www.doleta.gov/http://www.doleta.gov/ youth_services/pdf/STEM_Report_4%2007.pdf 10. LittleMachineShop.com (n.d.). Using a Caliper. LittleMachineShop.com. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http://www.littlemachineshop.com/http://www.littlemachineshop.com/ Reference/reference.php 11. McComb, G. (2011). Robot Builder's Bonanza. (4th ed.). New York, United States: McGraw-Hill/ TAB. 12. MathWorks (2012). MathWorks - MATLAB and Simulink for Technical Computing. MathWorks. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http:// www.mathworks.com

14. Bibliography Page 3 13. National Society of Professional Engineers (2007). Code of Ethics for Engineers. (2007th ed.). Alexandria, Virginia/United States: National Society of Professional Engineers. 14. President Barack Obama, State of the Union Address (Jan. 25, 2011), available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/25/ at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/25/ remarks-president- state-union-address remarks-president- state-union-address. 15. Stanford University (2012). Our Point of View. d.school: Institute of Design at Stanford. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http:// dschool.stanford.edu/our-point-of-view/