Some Notes (to Myself)
These are some of the lessons I want to cover this season, while giving the kids enough time to research, innovate, design, build, and iterate on their own. I don't know how I will fit them all into the few sessions we have.
Coding
- Simple loops (count, while, forever) - REVIEW
- Conditionals (if-then-else), including logical tests and operators. - REFINE
- Sensors (light, ultrasonic) - NEW
- Gyro feedback for movement (straight, turns) - REFINE
- Advanced motor methods (brake, hold, coast; acceleration; tank turns) - NEW
- MyBlocks (using variables and labels) - REFINE
- Plotting output for troubleshooting - NEW
- Events (when...), control blocks (end and wait), simultaneous code - NEW
Engineering Concepts
- Engineering Process:
- Recognize need
- Define problem, objective, and constraints
- Collect info and data
- Generate prolific alternative solutions
- Ruthlessly evaluate alternatives
- Decide
- Analysis and iteration
- System decomposition
- Feedback control
- Flow diagrams
- Documentation: decisions, improvements, cost and performance
Presentation Skills
- Content: Situation - Complication - Solution
- Emotional Register game
- Voice: volume, tone, speed
- Body: eye contact, hands, posture, facing
- Content: key points, differentiation, contributions
- Props and materials
- Use of story and example