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A.A.6 | Using the Design Process

Created by: Modular Robotics

Lesson Overview:
In this lesson, students will use the Design Process to build a Cubelet robot, called an Artbot, that will produce art.

The Basics:
Ages: 13 – 17 years (grades 7-12)
Time: 30-45 minutes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Lesson Goal (for the educator): Students will try to solve a problem, using Cubelets and the Design Process.
Lesson Objectives (for the students): My team will design and build an Artbot using the Cubelets and following the steps in the Design Process.
Essential Questions: Does our Artbot solve the problem? Is my team using the Design Process to help us with the construction of our Artbot?
21st Century Skills: Creativity and Innovation, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Communication and Collaboration, Adapt to Change, Be Flexible, Manage Projects, Produce Results, Work Effectively in Diverse Teams
Concepts: The Design Process
Vocabulary: Rebuilding, tinkering, users
Required Cubelets: Any and all of the Cubelets you can make available to the students
Additional Materials: Student Robotics Journals and containers of materials including but not limited to: Legos, paper cups, markers/crayons/pencils, string, magnets, paper/binder clips, marbles, paper cups, brads, craft sticks, rubber bands, tape, google eyes, cardboard pieces, netting/cheesecloth, small hooks

The Standards:
ISTE: International Society for Technology Education

CCSS: Common Core Standards

NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards

Prior Knowledge Necessary for the Student:
Understanding of Cubelets and their properties and how to reconfigure them to make changes to the robot’s behavior If no prior knowledge: Lessons up through A.A.5

Prior Knowledge for the Educator:

An Artbot may end up looking something like this – but the sky is the limit – see what your students come up with!

Educator Tips:
Before conducting this lesson, you may want to build an Artbot yourself.
  • Divide the class into groups of 2-5 students.
  • For each group, place in a container the Cubelets they will need.
  • For each group, gather the materials and place in containers the materials that are listed in the Additional Materials section of this lesson.

Lesson Plan Assets and Resources:

Click the buttons to download the Robot Journal and Extra Journal Pages

Lesson:

Introduction:

“In our last lesson, we learned about the Engineering Design Process. Today we are going to practice being engineers and solving a problem. Your team is going to use the Cubelets to build a robot, called an Artbot, which will be able to produce a piece of artwork. Your team will have a box of materials to use, but the rest is up to you. You will need to work together, using the design process, to come up with a solution.”

    Time: 2 Minutes
  1. “The problem to solve is to build a Cubelet robot, called an Artbot, which produces art.” You may want to show them several of the photos of Artbots included in this lesson
  2. “Remember, work as a team, use the design process, and see what you can come up with.” Show them the box of materials and clarify any questions students might have.

Time to Explore:
    Time: 20-30 Minutes
  1. Allow the students to carry out this project. Your job is to encourage team work, get them to think through their problems and/or issues that arise, make suggestions without giving answers, supply other requested materials they might need, etc.
  2. You may want to ask questions such as:
    • Does your team agree that the design solves the problem?
    • Are you happy with the speed at which your Artbot works?
    • Has your team tested the Artbot and solved issues to make it work more efficiently?
      • Time: 3-5 Minutes
    • In the end, you can have the teams share their Artbots.
Closure/Evaluation:
    Time: 1-2 Minutes
  1. Talk with the class about this exercise and what they learned. Discuss real-life applications such as painting the lines on the street, on a basketball or tennis court, on their own playground for a 4-square, etc.
    2. Time: 5-7 Minutes
  2. Give students time to record their thoughts about this lesson in their Robotics Journal.
    3. Time: 2-3 Minutes
  3. Allow time for students to put materials away and plug in the Battery Cubelets for recharging.

End Results:

Students will use the Design Process to design and build an Artbot using Cubelets.

Optional Quick Write For Prompt and/or Evaluation:

Write about your experience using the Engineering Design Process and working on a team. Discuss both the positive and difficult issues that occurred when working together. Bonus: If, while you were working on your Artbot, you came up with a new idea for a robot with a different function describe it here.

What To Go To Next:
For More Review:
  • Repeat Using the Design Process having the Artbot behave in a different way A.A.6
If Objectives Are Met:
  • Design Thinking A.A.7

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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