Implementing VEX GO STEM Labs

STEM Labs are designed to be the online teacher’s manual for VEX GO. Like a printed teacher’s manual, the teacher-facing content of the STEM Labs provides all of the resources, materials, and information needed to be able to plan, teach, and assess with VEX GO. The Lab Image Slideshows are the student-facing companion to this material. For more detailed information about how to implement a STEM Lab in your classroom, see the Implementing VEX GO STEM Labs article.

Goals and Standards

Goals

Students will apply

How to ask permission and give attribution when incorporating others’ ideas into a project.
How to collaborate with others to create the most efficient project to move cooling cells.

Students will make meaning of

Why it is important to ask permission and provide attribution when using the ideas of others.
How the sharing of ideas with a diverse group of people leads to better projects.

Students will be skilled at

Using build instructions to build the Super Code Base.
Connecting a Brain to a tablet or computer in VEXcode GO.
Saving and naming projects in VEXcode GO.
Adding VEXcode GO blocks to a project.
Using Drivetrain blocks in a project to have the Code Base drive to a specific location.
Using the Energize electromagnet block to pick up and drop off a Disk.
Changing parameters in VEXcode blocks.
Starting and stopping a project in VEXcode GO.
Giving attribution to other groups when using their ideas.
Collaborating with members of their group and other groups.
Applying feedback from those with differing perspectives to improve a project.

Students will know

How incorporating others’ ideas through collaboration helps to create more efficient projects to move cooling cells.

Objective(s)

Objective

Students will cite and attribute ideas that come from other groups when those ideas are used in a VEXcode GO project.
Students will develop a collaborative VEXcode GO project to pick up and deliver cooling cells.

Activity

In Play Part 2, students will ask permission to incorporate the feedback and ideas of others into their projects, and give attribution where needed.
In Play Part 1, students will collaborate within their groups to develop a VEXcode GO project to pick up and deliver cooling cells.

Assessment

In Share, students will explain what ideas they used that came from other groups and how they attributed those ideas to the other groups.
In the Mid-Play Break, students will share the projects they created and tested in Play Part 1. In Play Part 2, students will then collaborate with other groups to try and make their project more efficient.

Connections to Standards

Showcase Standards

Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA)

1B-IC-20: Seek diverse perspectives for the purpose of improving computational artifacts.

How Standard is Achieved: Students brainstorm and plan the path the Super Code Base needs to take in order to deliver cooling cells. They discuss their plan with other groups and share ideas on how to make the delivery of the cooling cells quicker. The teacher facilitates these discussions so students have guidance on how to seek those differing perspectives from other groups in order to improve their VEXcode GO projects.

Additional Standards

Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA)

1B-IC-19: Brainstorm ways to improve the accessibility and usability of technology products for the diverse needs and wants of users.

How Standard is Achieved: Students learn about the people living in the desert climate who need cooling cells delivered to their homes in order to live comfortably. Students brainstorm and plan the path the Super Code Base needs to take in order to deliver these cooling cells. They discuss how using the robot improves the accessibility of buildings in this society for people who need to stay cool in order to stay healthy and safe.

Additional Standards

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

1.2c: Students demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the rights and obligations of using and sharing intellectual property.

How Standard is Achieved: As students discuss their plans for coding the Super Code Base to deliver cooling cells, they may be inspired by ideas from other students and groups. Students learn how to give attribution for the ideas of other students and discuss how they are respecting their fellow classmates by asking permission and giving attribution when they use those ideas.

Additional Standards

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

1.4d: Students exhibit a tolerance for ambiguity, perseverance and the capacity to work with open-ended problems

How Standard is Achieved: In this Lab, students are presented with the open-ended challenge to code the Super Code Base to pick up and deliver cooling cells. They decide the path the robot should take through the course of the challenge. As they complete this coding activity, students show their perseverance for dealing with ambiguity and failure as they edit and refine their VEXcode GO projects.

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