ROVer Ranch Instructional Goals

ROVer Ranch Instructional Goals

  • Proceed from the known to the unknown.
    Robot stereotype to robotics as a concept
     Activities:
    1. Discuss and write about examples of robots in popular culture in student e-journals. Go to Popbots
    2. Learn the vocabulary words and concepts. Go to Vocabulary
    3. Reading selections available to enrich the students understanding of fictional robotic literature. Go to Readings

  • Proceed from the simple to the complex.
    Robot as a tool to a more complex definition
     Activities:
    1. Review and illustrate the history and development of robotics. Go to History
    2. Examination of the definition and traits of a robot. Go to Traits
    3. Analyze and distinguish different categories of robots. Go to Types and Subsystems

  • Proceed from the concrete to the abstract.
    Known examples of robots to requirements to build a robot
     Activities:
    1. Inventory of systems required to build a category of robot. Go to the Robot Builder
    2. Compare and contrast elements of each category requirement. Go to the Robot Builder

  • Proceed from the particular to the general.
    Specific robot task to other robot tasks
     Activities:
    1. Design and build a ROVer model based upon mission selected. Go to the Robot Builder
    2. Examine and appraise systems of ROVer for compliance with characteristics for success. Go to Robot Builder
    3. Investigate other potential robot tasks in this mission environment. Go to Journal

  • Proceed from observation to reasoning.
    Carry out robot task and measure "success" by observing, measuring, recording, analysis, synthesis
     Activities:
    1. Test robotic design for functional integrity. Go to Robot Builder
    2. Plan and diagram point to point program for mission goal. Go to Path Planner
    3. Experiment with alternate methods to accomplish mission goal. Go to Path Planner
    4. Execute ROVer mission in simulated environment. Go to Simulator
    5. Collect and examine data on mission characteristics. Go to Journal

  • Proceed from a whole view to a more detailed view.
    Share results of robot task and then analyze
     Activities:
    1. Observe and record success and failure of different methodologies. Go to Journal
    2. Engage in discussion with others regarding shared observations. Go talk with team
    3. Evaluate and record potential improvements to your mission planning and execution. Go talk with team Go to Journal
    4. Challenge yourself to build a better bot! Go to Robot Builder

Instructional Goal Process from: I.K. Davies, Instructional Technique, New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1981.

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