16-651: Educational Robotics for the Classroom - Assignments

Homework 1: Concept Exploration & Concept Mapping Due Wednesday, July 13th
Your homework is to generate multiple curriculum candidates suitable for discussion and for evaluation so that, during the remaining time, you can narrow from these candidates to one particular idea. Please come with descriptions of at least 5 curricular concepts using the Robot Diaries technology kits. These 5 concepts should draw on at least 3 different subject areas or disciplines. Describe each candidate with one paragraph of prose, plus a listing of subjects outside of technology relevant to the idea. Be sure to include a description of what the student might do for this project. Keep in mind that projects can be designed to span short or long time frames.

Homework 2: Mini Project Due Thursday, July 14th

Write a mini project based on the Robot Diaries technology kit that takes its inspiration from one of the Wednesday tours. The mini project should include both a research component and an action component for students to complete. Post your mini project to both the course blog and the Robot Diaries blog. Email educationalrobotics@posterous.com to post to http://educationalrobotics.posterous.com/. Email robotdiaries@posterous.com to post to http://robotdiaries.posterous.com/.

In-class Project: Concept Definition Thursday, July 14th

Based on the matrix evaluation and discussions Tuesday, from your candidate concepts, select your concept and create the first draft of your detailed concept definition. This should include: standards met by this curricular concept rubrics for measuring student performance one-paragraph motivation for the specific curriculum proposed calendar for how this activity fits into your school year, including estimates of time spent on the activity

16-651 Assignments

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Homework 3: Evaluations and Standards Due Friday, July 15th

Using your prior evaluation experience and the evaluation techniques we discussed on Thursday, design evaluation instruments to deploy if and when you use your Robot Diaries curriculum in-class. Prepare the actual paper or web-based forms that you propose to use. We will review your evaluation strategy with you one-on-one on Friday to give you feedback and suggest changes. You should have at least one pre/post survey prepared for today and entered into Survey Monkey. You should include on your survey questions designed to measure attitudinal changes regarding interest in technology, and your survey should also include questions that measure at least one other form of impact that is not related to technology. Because evaluation is designed in the context of your specific learning goals, you should have a 1-page evaluation goals document that describes the learning themes and issues that motivate your particular evaluation instruments.

Final Project Presentation Due Saturday, July 16th

On Saturday you will be presenting all your project materials to the class and to special invited guests that we will have here. Ensure that your project includes the following components, all of which should be uploaded to both the course blog and the Robot Diaries blog: Description of student activities/units Standards Grading rubrics Evaluation tools In addition, we will try out the mini activities you have designed. For your mini activity please prepare documentation as needed for the participants and a timeline that should span 1 hour of work.

16-651 Assignments

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