CPCC_Service_Learning_LegoRobotics
- 1. Service-Learning with Lego Robotics Jean-Marie Nshimiyimana, Adam Pannell,Maurice Hanns, Alejandro Villalobos, Felesia Stukes Initiative ConclusionsIntroduction Service-Learning at CPCC involves curricular and co-curricular activities that enhance student learning, promote civic responsibility, and respond to critical needs in the local community through collaborative campus and community partnerships. The CPCC STARS Program teamed up with an undergraduate Intro Programming class to lead an afterschool Lego Robotics Club for a community partner. This service-learning project spanned both Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 terms. It was designed to reinforce programming concepts learned in the undergraduate programming course while also introducing children in grades 3-5 to computing. Having prior success with this Lego Club in previous semesters, the CPCC STARS students used this year to explore new curriculum through the use of two different robotics kits and comparing the outcomes of both. Impact CPCC STARS led a 10-week Lego Robotics Club at a local area K-5 school in both the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 terms. Sessions were 1 hour after school. Lego WeDo Kits were used in the Fall and Lego Mindstorms NXT in the Spring CPCC STARS members worked alongside CPCC undergraduate students who were enrolled an intro programming course to design and execute curriculum suitable for both kits Curriculum comprised of building and programming the robots using concepts such as variables, decision structures, and loops. Participants were encouraged to use robots to demonstrate real life situations on their own Participants across both terms included 27 undergraduate students (8 female) and 14 K-5 students Many undergraduate students had not previously participated in community service 92% of undergraduate participants would recommend outreach with the Lego Club to their peers 83% of the participants gained understanding of loop concepts using both NXTs and Wedo 92% of undergraduate participants found their experience beneficial. Service-learning is a very effective way to engage 2-year college students with the local community. Undergraduate students found their participation beneficial. K-5 students and their parents found CPCC STARS involvement beneficial as well. All participants found the use of both Lego WeDo and Mindstorms NXT interesting and were able to easily adapt curriculum according to program participant needs. Students developed a sense of community through their engagement. Provide regular training sessions to undergraduate students on conducting Lego Robotics outreach Develop a detailed curriculum suitable for any age group Find a community partner to incorporate high school students Plan for longer sessions Lego Robotics Club Leaders Alejandro Villalobos , Maurice Hanns, Jean-Marie Nshimiyimana, Adam Pannell Fall 2013-Spring 2014 Group Photo Lego Club with WeDo Robotics Fall 2013 Lego Club with Mindstorms NXT Spring 2014 “ I had fun, I learned from it and also shared my knowledge” “It taught me to look for alternative ways to engage with children” “I get to see young kids interested in STEM and hopefully continue along that path” Undergraduate Participant Comments Future Work