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 correctly describe the flow of a project that uses the Electromagnet to pick up and move a disk to a new location.

Students will make meaning of

How code can be used to control a robotic arm.
How an Electromagnet can be used on a robotic arm to move magnetic objects.

Students will be skilled at

Creating and starting a VEXcode GO project.
Using the [Energize Electromagnet] block to pick up and drop a disk in a project.
Creating a project to make the Code Robot Arm (1-Axis) pick up and move a disk.

Students will know

That the [Energize Electromagnet] block has two different modes: boost or drop.
That the [Energize Electromagnet] block, when set to boost, attracts a disk to the Electromagnet.
That the [Energize Electromagnet] block, when set to drop, releases the disk that the Electromagnet is holding.
That the [Energize Electromagnet] block is a stack block that can be used with motor blocks to move disks with a robotic arm.

Objective(s)

Objective

Students will identify the VEXcode GO blocks needed to control the motor on the Robot Arm (1-Axis).
Students will utilize the [Energize electromagnet] block to control the Electromagnet to move a disk from one location to another.

Activity

In Play Part 1, students will build a project in VEXcode GO where the base spins 90 degrees four times. They will use the [Spin motor for] block to create this project.
In the Mid-Play Break, students will discuss how they might control the Electromagnet using code. In Play Part 2, students will be introduced to the [Energize electromagnet] block. They will add the block to their project to “boost” the Electromagnet and pick up the disk.

Assessment

In Play Part 2, students will be asked to recall what block was used to control the motor. They will then use the [Spin motor for] block to create a project that helps the Robot Arm accomplish the task of picking up and moving a disk.
In Play Part 2, students will add a second [Energize electromagnet] block and change the parameters from “boost” to “drop” in order to drop the disk at a specified location.

Connections to Standards

Showcase Standards

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

ISTE - (7) Innovative Designer - 7c: Students contribute constructively to project teams, assuming various roles and responsibilities to work effectively toward a common goal.

How Standard is Achieved: In Engage, students work in project teams to construct the Robot Arm (1-Axis). During Engage, students complete the Robot Roles and Routines sheet to identify their various roles and follow those parameters to work effectively toward creating a functional build. During the Play section, students will work with their team to create and test a VEXcode GO project.

Additional Standards

Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA)

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

How Standard is Achieved: Students brainstorm and plan the actions the robot needs to take in order to complete the task. They discuss their plan with other groups and share ideas on how to complete the activity. 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.

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