Vocabulary
- Robotic Arm
- A type of mechanical arm, usually programmable, with similar functions to a human arm.
- Decompose
- Breaking down a complex problem into smaller parts that are more manageable and easier to understand.
- Mechanism
- A mechanical device used to make a task easier.
- Conditional
- Evaluates if a statement is true or false in coding. Different actions occur depending on if the statement is true or false.
- Electromagnet
- A type of magnet where the magnetic field is produced by an electric current.
- Eye Sensor
- A type of sensor that detects if there is an object present and the color of the object (red / green / blue.) It will also register the brightness of light (low light = dark, lots of light = bright).
- VEXcode GO
- Software used to create a project and communicate with VEX GO robots.
- [Wait for] block
- Waits for a specific amount of time before moving to the next block.
- [Wait until] block
- Waits for a condition to report true before moving to the next block.
- [Spin for] block
- Spins a Motor for a given distance.
- [Energize magnet] block
- Sets the Electromagnet to two different modes: boost or drop.
- <Color sensing> block
- Reports if the Eye Sensor detects a specific color. Will report true when the Eye Sensor detects the selected color. Will report false when the Eye Sensor detects a different color than the one selected.
- <Eye found object?> block
- Reports if the Eye Sensor has found an object in front of the sensor.
- [If Then] block
- The [If Then] 'C' block will only check the condition once. If the condition is reported as true, the blocks inside of the [If Then] block will run. If the condition is reported as false, the blocks inside of the [If Then] block will be skipped. The [If Then] block can accept hexagonal (six-sided) shaped blocks as its condition.
Encouraging Vocabulary Usage
The following are additional ways to facilitate vocabulary usage as students are engaged in the activities throughout this Unit.
Students should be encouraged to use the vocabulary terms:
- Throughout all of the activities
- As they are working in groups
- As they are reflecting
- As they are sharing their knowledge and experience
Tips for Encouraging Vocabulary Usage
- Matching Game: Have students write each definition and vocabulary word on separate pieces of paper. When students turn over the definitions or a word, have them name the matching word or definition of the word.
- If they get it correct, they can keep the piece of paper and go again!
- If they get it incorrect, they should place the paper face down and let the next student take a turn.
- Code a Friend: Many of the vocabulary words in this Unit relate to the blocks in VEXcode GO. Have students write out a project on a piece of paper using the vocabulary words. Share the paper with a friend and see if they can act out the code!
- Example: “Spin for 180 degrees. Energize magnet to boost. Spin. Wait Until Eye Detects Red. Set Energize Magnet to drop.”
- Your friend would be correct is they spin for 180 degrees, pick up an object, keep spinning until they see something red, then drop the object they picked up.