T.I.S.P. TEACHERS IN-SERVICE PROGRAM SEPTEMBER 7 AND 8, 2007 SYMBIOTIC SUPPLEMENT THE ROBOT CHALLENGE

SIMILARITIES BOTH PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO S.T.E.M SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING MATH BOTH SUPPORT SCHOOL SCIENCE CURRICULUM

DIFFERENCES TISP OFFERS MANY PROJECTS EACH OF ABOUT 2 PERIODS DURATION THE ROBOT CHALLENGE IS OF 2 TO 4 MONTHS DURATION, AND MORE CLOSELY SIMULATES A TYPICAL ENGINEERING PROJECT

SYMBIOTIC TISP STARTS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND GOES ON THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. STUDENTS BEGIN TO DEVELOP AN INTEREST THE ROBOT CHALLENGE IS DONE AT HIGH SCHOOL AND PREPARES STUDENTS TO MAKE A DECISION: WHETHER TO BECOME AN ENGINEER

WHAT IS THE ROBOT CHALLENGE? A HANDS-ON PROJECT WHERE A TEAM OF STUDENTS CREATE A WALKING ROBOT FROM PIECES OF WOOD, PAPER CLIPS AND BRASS FASTENERS, CHEAP MOTORS AND THREADED RODS, AND COMPETE WITH TEAMS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS, IN THEIR ABILITY TO: –COMPLETE A COURSE OVER OBSTACLES –WRITE A 30 PAGE TECHNICAL ESSAY DESCRIBING THEIR EXPERIENCE –MAKE ON ORAL PRESENTATION BEFORE A PANEL OF JUDGES

THE CHALLENGE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SELECT THEIR OWN LEVEL OF CHALLENGE: –A 2-LEG ROBOT –A 4-LEG ROBOT –A 2-LEG ROBOT WITH AUTOMATION –A 4-LEG ROBOT WITH AUTOMATION

2-LEG ROBOT

2-leg Robot Notice 2 motors (legs) and 2 skids

4-leg robot Notice 4 Controllers, a longer body and 2 legs that will be inserted each side

2-leg Robot with body and Automation Controller

Top view of Controller

Programming the Controller

The Judges

The Poster that the Penguin Team would present at the Oral Presentations

Oral Presentations

SUMMARY MANUALS, KITS AND MENTORING ARE PROVIDED BY IEEE COST VARIES ACCORDING TO THE CHALLENGE, RANGING FROM $12 PER STUDENT (FOR THE MOST POPULAR 2- LEG ROBOTS) TO $50 PER STUDENT (FOR THE MOST SOPHISTICATED) PROVIDES 2 TO 4 MONTHS OF CLASSROOM TIME