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Introduction & Program Overview<br />

A Publication of<br />

Copyright 2016 RoboThink, LLC. All Right Reserved<br />

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WELCOME!<br />

To Our Valued Parents and Educators,<br />

Welcome to RoboThink! RoboThink is an exciting new STEM<br />

(science, technology, engineering and mathematics) <strong>program</strong> for<br />

students in elementary, middle and high school. Our learning<br />

<strong>program</strong> uses a proprietary robotics learning system to teach<br />

students how to build robots and how to code. Not only that, we also<br />

have fun and exciting engineering projects where students learn<br />

about aeronautics, 3-D printing, virtual reality, and much, much more!<br />

Our unique pedagogy and approach in our robotics kits and teaching<br />

methods are designed to inspire and foster creative and higher level<br />

thinking abilities as well as make robotics and coding accessible for<br />

students of all ages.<br />

In this <strong>guide</strong>, you will become familiar with why robotics education<br />

will be an important part of STEM and the innovative RoboThink<br />

STEM robotics <strong>program</strong>.<br />

We look forward to working with you as an educator and partner to<br />

inspire the next generation of engineers to contribute to America’s<br />

bright future.<br />

Sincerely,<br />

The RoboThink Team<br />

1


I<br />

Introduction<br />

Introduction<br />

1. RoboThink Mission Statement<br />

1. The mission of RoboThink is to provide an engaging<br />

and effective STEM education <strong>program</strong> in the US.<br />

RoboThink believes in student-oriented education<br />

and learning environment. We are committed to<br />

meeting the needs of students in a creative and<br />

innovative fashion.<br />

2. RoboThink is encouraging our students, the future<br />

of the world, to think, hope and dream. We believe<br />

children can excel if given the proper tools,<br />

guidance and taught in the right environment.<br />

2


I<br />

Introduction<br />

2. Why Robot Education?<br />

1<br />

2<br />

• More and more countries are going out of their way to enhance<br />

knowledge and competitive power by offering Science and<br />

Technology courses in classrooms, putting robotics technology<br />

at the core. (Japan, South Korea, China, India, Singapore, etc.)<br />

• A human-robot coexistence society is approaching and will<br />

spawn a whole new industry as a “next-gen” business. This<br />

motivates parents to keep their children exposed to robotics<br />

education.<br />

Introduction<br />

3<br />

• Robotics is interesting for students! Robotics can engage<br />

otherwise uninterested students into the world of STEM courses.<br />

4<br />

• Even today, Robotics is uneasy to access and understand for<br />

most students. RoboThink bridges that gap by bringing an<br />

easy to use and flexible robotics kits just for students. With<br />

a leveled curriculum, students of different ages and skills can<br />

begin to explore the exciting world of robotics and coding.<br />

3


I<br />

Introduction Introduction & Philosophy<br />

Robotics: An<br />

Interdisciplinary<br />

Approach to<br />

STEM Education<br />

• RoboThink is not just about building robots. Students<br />

must draw upon their critical thinking, problem solving<br />

and visual spatial abilities to work with our kits.<br />

Students are also encouraged to think creatively and<br />

use their imagination when asked to build their own<br />

robots.<br />

Students also learn relevant coding principles<br />

applicable to real life world (C Programming Language)<br />

4


II<br />

<strong>program</strong> Overview<br />

3. Program Introduction<br />

Features of the RoboThink Program<br />

1. RoboThink is a STEM Program<br />

You probably have heard of the big push for STEM (Science, Technology,<br />

Engineering and Math) subjects in public schools. This is the result of an<br />

increasing need for engineers and <strong>program</strong>mers in the global 21 st century<br />

economy. RoboThink is a development <strong>program</strong> designed to inspire students<br />

to explore the STEM world. Our <strong>program</strong> utilizes robotics, something many<br />

students are fond of, to teach students how to build robots and how to code.<br />

We also offer fun and exciting engineering projects that students choose<br />

according to their interests such as:<br />

• Aeronautics<br />

• Electric Circuitry<br />

• Civil Engineering<br />

• Mechanical Engineering<br />

• Marine Engineering<br />

<strong>program</strong> Overview<br />

By exposing students to the exciting world of robotics and an easy to use<br />

coding environment, we hope to develop our students’ thinking abilities as<br />

well as inspire them to choose a career path in engineering.<br />

5


II<br />

<strong>program</strong> Overview<br />

4. Program Introduction cont.<br />

2. RoboThink Uses Proprietary Materials<br />

Other robotics and engineering <strong>program</strong>s uses LEGOs to teach robotics and<br />

coding. The problem is that LEGOs were never designed to be used as<br />

instructional materials and have limitations in what can be built. RoboThink<br />

uses proprietary robotics kits and teaching methods specifically designed<br />

with the aid of child development experts and Montessori teachers that foster<br />

and develop:<br />

• Critical Thinking<br />

• Creative Thinking<br />

• Visual Spatial Skills<br />

• Problem Solving Skills<br />

<strong>program</strong> Overview<br />

Our robotics blocks and parts are three dimensional (they attach on all 6 faces)<br />

helping students to develop mental imaging and visual spatial skills. Because<br />

they are three dimensional, more shapes and figures can be built. Our kits<br />

also include: DC & Servo Motors, IR Sensors, Light Sensors, Touch Sensors,<br />

gears, wheels, axles & axle connectors.<br />

6


II<br />

<strong>program</strong> Overview<br />

4. Program Introduction cont.<br />

2. RoboThink Teaches Relevant Coding<br />

Other robotics and engineering <strong>program</strong>s uses LEGO Mindstorm kits to teach<br />

students how to code. The main problem with this is that the coding<br />

principles of Mindstorm <strong>program</strong>s do not apply to actual real life <strong>program</strong>ming<br />

languages.<br />

<strong>program</strong> Overview<br />

RoboThink Main Board<br />

RoboThink uses an open-source Arduino platform at the heart of our Robot<br />

Programming Board. The main advantage of using an open-source platform<br />

such as Arduino is that students learn how to code in the C <strong>program</strong>ming<br />

language, one of the main <strong>program</strong>ming languages used by developers<br />

around the world. The coding principles students learn with our boards will<br />

remain relevant, long after they have completed our <strong>program</strong>.<br />

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II<br />

<strong>program</strong> Overview<br />

<strong>program</strong> Overview<br />

4. Program Introduction cont.<br />

3. RoboThink Makes Coding Easy<br />

RoboThink also uses a customized version of Scratch, an MIT developed<br />

coding <strong>program</strong> that allows students to code by dragging and dropping<br />

different shapes that represent different code.<br />

By using a easy to use coding <strong>program</strong>, students who have never coded<br />

before can learn how to code without learning the technicalities of writing out<br />

line code.<br />

By combining robotics and coding, students will be more engaged by seeing a<br />

physical manifestation of their <strong>program</strong>s.<br />

8


II<br />

<strong>program</strong> Overview<br />

5. Program Introduction cont.<br />

3. RoboThink is a Flexible Program<br />

Our <strong>program</strong> is flexible to meet the needs and wants of educators. Whether in<br />

a classroom, camp, after-school, etc., we can adjust the depth and length of<br />

the RoboThink <strong>program</strong> to fit space and time constraints.<br />

RoboThink<br />

<strong>program</strong> Overview<br />

Class<br />

After School<br />

Extra-<br />

Curricular<br />

Summer &<br />

Winter<br />

Camps<br />

And more!<br />

9


IV II<br />

The <strong>program</strong> RoboThink Overview Way<br />

2. Age-Groups<br />

Elementary Middle School High School<br />

College<br />

(In Development)<br />

• Using<br />

RoboThink blocks<br />

to build shapes,<br />

characters,<br />

scenery and<br />

objects.<br />

•Develop spatial<br />

sense<br />

•Use Scratch Jr. to<br />

learn early<br />

principles of how<br />

coding works<br />

• Begin to learn<br />

principles of<br />

gears, motors and<br />

sensors.<br />

• Use gears,<br />

motors and<br />

sensors to<br />

build more<br />

complex<br />

robots.<br />

• Begin to use<br />

RoboThink<br />

Scratch<br />

<strong>program</strong> to<br />

begin learning<br />

principles of<br />

code<br />

• Engage in<br />

robotics<br />

competitions<br />

• Use gears,<br />

motors and<br />

sensors to build<br />

more complex<br />

robots.<br />

• Use RoboThink<br />

Scratch <strong>program</strong><br />

to learn<br />

principles of<br />

code.<br />

• Continue to use<br />

Scratch <strong>program</strong><br />

to create more<br />

complex robots<br />

that respond to<br />

environment<br />

using sensors<br />

• Engage in<br />

robotics<br />

competitions<br />

• Use humanoid<br />

robots and<br />

advanced<br />

<strong>program</strong>ming<br />

languages.<br />

<strong>program</strong> Overview<br />

10


III<br />

<strong>program</strong> Instruction Overview<br />

3. Learning Cycle in Detail<br />

Recommended Learning Cycle<br />

Exchanging goodbyes<br />

Summary of<br />

this week’s<br />

work / Preview<br />

of next week’s<br />

robots<br />

After<br />

completion,<br />

allow students<br />

to make design<br />

changes to<br />

robots<br />

END<br />

Wrapping up<br />

Preparation<br />

for class<br />

Typical Class Time<br />

1:30 Hours<br />

Building Time<br />

START<br />

Starting<br />

class<br />

Greeting<br />

Getting ready<br />

for today’s<br />

engineering<br />

lesson<br />

Go over<br />

today’s<br />

mission/obje<br />

ctives and<br />

begin<br />

If the student<br />

didn’t complete<br />

last class’s<br />

robot, they<br />

should finish<br />

that first<br />

<strong>program</strong> Overview<br />

Student<br />

begins work<br />

on his robot<br />

Teaching the<br />

main science<br />

concepts for this<br />

week's lesson<br />

11


Notes<br />

Notes<br />

12


A Publication of<br />

RoboThink Introduction & Program Overview<br />

Copyright RoboThink, LLC. 2016 All Rights Reserved<br />

This data is designed to help you better understand the RoboThink Program<br />

and has been developed with an accredited research institute.<br />

Version NA-A2<br />

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