Robotics

What is Lego Robotics?

Lego Robotics is a teaching and learning program which utilises Lego Robotics kits, to enable students, as young as 7 years-old, to engage with computer programming to design, build and program robots.

The program provides opportunities for students to problem solve and learn in a collaborative team within a STEM learning environment.

A connected learning environment:

Click on the logos to connect to the relevant websites.

LEGO MINDSTORMS

The Lego Mindstorms website offers opportunities to download Apps, download software for PC or Mac and watch tutorial videos.

LEGO EDUCATION

This Lego Education website is designed specifically for educators. One interesting and useful section provides suggestions for grants and funding for starting a Lego Robotics program at a school.

QUT STEM FOR SCHOOLS

A valuable resource for south-east Queensland schools is QUT.

QUT provide opportunities for school visits, through their Extreme Science and Engineering Van. They also provide a service to schools to start and maintain a Lego Robotics program.

Teachers can participate in Robotics@QUT workshops and run school-based robotics programs, assisted by QUT preservice teachers. They loan robotics kits to schools, and hundreds of local students and their parents are involved in on-campus robotics challenges and fun days each year.

An example of a Lego Robotics makerspace:

At a state primary school, north of Brisbane, Lego Robotics is provided as an extension program for students, as an after school elective.

This program has been provided for many years now, so some students have been involved over several years and have more experience than new students to the program. Beginning students work with one teacher and are shown the basics of programing. There are instruction tutorials available. More experienced students work together as teams and create programs to meet particular criteria.

The students compete in the QUT FIRST® LEGO® League, which is an international robotics program. It is designed for teams of students (ages 9 – 16 years) to work collaboratively with their peers and coach. FIRST® LEGO® League challenges students to think like scientists and engineers and respond to real-world issues. For more detailed information, visit the FIRST® LEGO® Australia website.

Images by Makers in the Middle authors.