This unit should be implemented to supplement student learning on the concepts of digital citizenship and literacy, such as improving the accessibility of technology and seeking diverse perspectives when creating computational artifacts..
STEM Labs can be adapted in various ways to fit into any classroom or learning environment. Each STEM Lab includes the following 3 sections: Engage, Play, and Share (optional).
Each STEM Lab in this unit can be completed in as little as 40 minutes
Section Summary
The Engage and Play sections, which contain the primary learning activities, can be completed within 40 minutes. The Share section, which enables students to express their learning is optional, but estimated at around 3-5 minutes per group.
Click on the tabs below to view descriptions of the Engage, Play, and Share sections of the STEM Lab.
The Pacing Guide
The pacing guide for each Lab provides step-by-step instructions on What, How, and When to teach. The STEM Lab Pacing Guide previews the concepts that are taught in each section (Engage, Play, and Share (optional)), explains how the section is delivered, and identifies all the materials that are needed.
Making This Unit Fit Your Unique Classroom Needs
Not every classroom is the same, and teachers face a variety of implementation challenges throughout the year. While each VEX GO STEM Lab follows a predictable format, there are things that you can do in this Unit to help make it easier to meet those challenges when they arise.
- Implementing in less time:
- In Lab 1, provide students with a discrete path for the robot to take. They can create and test the code based on this path. Then discuss as a whole class how they would make the path faster and how they would give attribution to the ideas of other students if they were to improve their projects. This allows you to skip Play Part 2.
- For Lab 2, explain to students the logic behind the password in Play Part 1 rather then having them discover the patterns. Then have students create their own password VEXcode GO projects and run them on the robot to test.
- Activities to support reteaching:
- If students are struggling to communicate with one another to share ideas and/or attribute ideas from other groups, have them complete the Follow Directions and the Copycat VEX GO Activities.
- To emphasize the idea of keeping information like passwords safe, have students complete the Security Robot VEX GO Activity.
- To further engage with the idea of adaptive technologies helping to meet the needs of others and also benefitting society as a whole, have students complete the Handy Helpers VEX GO Activity.
- For additional practice coding the Electromagnet, have students complete the Mars Rover Search and Collect Activity.
- Extending this Unit:
- Once groups have successfully collected their cooling cells, have them try to use the Drive Tab in VEXcode GO, to deliver the cooling cells using remote control driving. Then, compare and contrast the movement and accuracy of the Super Code Base between remote control driving and driving with their coding projects. Which is faster? Which is more precise? Which drives further? What are some advantages and disadvantages to each form of driving the Super Code Base? What option do they think is more appropriate for transporting the cooling cells to the neighborhood?
- Use the Choice Board activities to extend the Unit, while allowing students to express their voice and choice in what activities they want to complete.
- To extend Lab 2, have students create a longer password (4 or 5 digits). They can then incorporate their password into the following Lab when they code their robot to drive and pick up two cooling cells at a time. Students will need to have their Super Code Base display the password to enter the lab before picking up the cooling cells.
- You can also invite students to build a 'gate' at the edge of the cooling cell lab pick up area. The gate should be down until the robot approaches and flashes the password. Then the gate can be raised or moved to allow the robot to enter and pick up the cooling cells.
VEXcode GO Resources
Concept | Resource | Description |
---|---|---|
Drivetrain Commands |
Driving Your Robot Tutorial Video |
Describes basic movements using the Drive for and Turn for blocks in a project. Use this if students need reminders in Lab 1. |
Drivetrain Commands |
Turning Your Robot Tutorial Video |
Describes the difference between the kinds of Drivetrain turn blocks. Use this if students need reminders in Lab 1. |
Drivetrain Commands |
Turning Accurately Example Project |
Shows the different kinds of Drivetrain turn blocks used in a project. Use this with the Turning Your Robot tutorial video if students are looking for ideas on how they could improve their projects in Lab 1. |
Sequencing |
Sequencing Tutorial Video |
Defines sequence and explains the importance of ordering blocks in a project so the robot performs as you intent it to. Use this if students need reminders in Labs 1 and 2. |
Velocity |
Changing Velocities Example Project |
Shows the Set drive velocity and Set turn velocity blocks and how they are used in a project. Use this if students are looking for ideas on how they could improve their projects in Lab 1. |
LED Bumper |
Using the LED Bumper Example Project |
This example project uses a Repeat loop to change the color of the LED Bumper from green, to red, to off. Use this to help students with their LED Bumper in Lab 2. |
Electromagnet |
Using the Electromagnet Example Project |
This example project shows how the Energize electromagnet block can be used to pick up and drop off a Disk. |
Using VEXcode GO Help
In Lab 2 of this Unit, a VEXcode GO project is provided for the student either in the form of an downloadable project or as images of projects to recreate. You can use the Help feature together with your students as an extension tool to explain how specific blocks are functioning in this project.
After reading the description for, or with your student, you can ask students to describe how the block functions in the project they are working on. If students want more practice with a specific block, have them look at the example provided and ask them what the robot will do in the project shown, then you can help them make connections to how that is similar or different to the project they are working on in the Unit.
Blocks in this Unit include:
- Set bumper color
- Set bumper brightness
- Energize electromagnet
- Wait
- Repeat