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 build a pendulum.
How to problem solve using the iterative process.

Students will make meaning of

How can the pendulum solve an authentic problem?
How can the iterative process be used in my daily life?

Students will be skilled at

Build the pendulum using the VEX GO Kit.
Identify solutions to challenge questions about spatial reasoning, measurement, and motion and force.
Identify solutions to challenge questions using trial and error.
Collaborate with team to answer challenge questions.

Students will know

How to build a pendulum using the VEX GO kit.
How to use trial and error to develop a solution to a open-ended challenge question.

Objective(s)

Objective

Students will build a pendulum using the VEX GO Kit.
Students will identify solutions to pendulum challenges using the iterative process to problem solve with the VEX GO Kit.

Activity

Students will build the pendulum.
Students will identify solutions to the pendulum challenges through failures, trying the problem again and successfully completing the challenges as a team.

Assessment

As a team, students will build the pendulum using instructions. Visual observation will show if the team works together as a team.
As a team, students will identify solutions to the pendulum challenges. Visual observation will show whether the team is success with the challenges.

Connections to Standards

Showcase Standards

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

ISTE - (4) Innovative Designer - 4a: Students know and use deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems.

How Standard is Achieved: In Lab 1, this ISTE standard is met in the Play Part 1 and Part 2 activities through the Pendulum Challenge Cards. Students will design and generate ideas on how to create and solve an authentic problem. Using challenges such as add a piece to your pendulum, students will solve a design challenge. By solving authentic problems, students will engage in designing for a reason.

Showcase Standards

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

ISTE - (4) Innovative Designer - 4c: Students develop, test and refine prototypes as part of a cyclical design process.

How Standard is Achieved: In Lab 1, this ISTE standard is met in the Engage section through building and constructing the pendulum. Students will debug and test how pieces are put together for the build.

In Lab 1, the ISTE standard is also met through the Play 1 and Play 2 activities. Students test, debug and solve using the Pendulum Challenge Cards and the iterative process. Testing, failing, and then trying again is a major theme in the Play 1 and Play 2 sections for students to gain a sense of understanding how every challenge will take more than one step to solve.

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