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The Sense It Challenge

Teacher Toolbox icon Teacher Toolbox - The Purpose of this Challenge

The purpose of the Sense It Challenge is to have fun while memorizing the names of the different sensors and the ports they are most commonly plugged into for standard configurations. The game is played by one student at a time. The brain displays a sensor or motor and its port. It's the player's challenge to press, activate, or spin the correct sensor or motor as quickly as possible so that s/he can earn a point and continue to earn more points within the two-minute time limit. Every student will play the game, earn a score, and compete to make their team the winning team.

It is recommended that students are grouped into teams of three or four students. The same teams from the Play section can be used. Each team member will take her/his turn in the Sense It Challenge and record her/his score. After all team members have played the game, the scores for all team members will be summed as a team score. Then teams' summed scores can be compared to determine an overall winning team.

One or multiple rounds of play can be used, depending on the class time allowed. A round of play consists of all team members each playing the game individually and then summing their scores together for that round.

When recording scores, it is in the rules that a player's final score needs to be attested to by an adult or by a student on another team. The project leaves the Final Score displayed for 20 seconds, in case the witness needs time to review it.

To simplify getting started on this challenge, the project can be downloaded to the testbeds before students arrive.

A hand positioned over a Distance Sensor on a Testbed, illustrating the Sense It Challenge.
Testbed build with hand over the Distance Sensor

The Sense It Challenge

The Sense It Challenge tests your ability to quickly and accurately use the Sensors and Smart Motors on the Testbed build. The brain will display a sensor or motor and its port. It's your challenge to press, activate, or spin the correct sensor or motor as quickly as possible so that you can earn a point and continue to earn more points within the two-minute time limit. Every student will play the game, earn a score, and compete to make their team the winning team.

In order to compete in the challenge you'll need:

  • Completed Testbed build

  • Sense It Challenge example project from VEXcode IQ 

    Example project icon reads Sense it challenge on the bottom, indicating which example project to use.

  • Pencils and paper to record scores

The Rules

  • One person competes on the Testbed at a time. The person must run the Sense It Challenge project to start the challenge for her/himself.
  • All sensors and motors must be connected to the correct ports in order for the Sense It Challenge to work properly.
  • Each player has a total of two minutes to activate as many correct sensors and motors as possible.
  • Each correct response earns you one point and the game will track your score.
  • The player's final score should be witnessed by an adult or a player from another team before it is recorded.
  • Have fun!

Instructions

  1. Make sure the Sense It Challenge example project is downloaded to the VEX IQ Testbed.
  2. Decide the order that your team members will play in.
  3. The player stands at the front of the Testbed, looks at the upright brain, and runs the Sense It Challenge. The game will start and you'll receive your first instruction.
  4. The player continues until the game ends at the two-minute time limit.
  5. When the game ends, the player has a witness look at her/his score and then writes down the Final Score.
  6. The next player then plays the Sense It Challenge until everyone on the team has had a turn.
  7. Final scores are added together as the Team Score and a winning team is declared!

The images below show what the screen will look like. Below the name of the project, you will see your instruction. The first one below shows the Smart Motor connected to Port 1. Below that you can see your Score and the Time remaining. Those two values update after you correctly respond.

Here is a table showing the brain's screen and how to respond to each of the ten possible instructions:

Screen You should...
Sense It Challenge open on the IQ Brain Screen reads Smart Motor - Port 1, Score = 0, Time remaining = 120, and indicates to press the X button to exit. Spin the Smart Motor connected to Port 1.
Sense It Challenge open on the IQ Brain Screen reads Touch LED - Port 2, Score = 0, Time remaining = 120, and indicates to press the X button to exit. Press the Touch LED connected to Port 2.
Sense It Challenge open on the IQ Brain Screen reads Gyro Sensor - Port 4, Score = 0, Time remaining = 120, and indicates to press the X button to exit. Turn the Gyro Sensor in Port 4.
Sense It Challenge open on the IQ Brain Screen reads Bumper Switch - Port 5, Score = 0, Time remaining = 120, and indicates to press the X button to exit. Press the Bumper Switch in Port 5.
Sense It Challenge open on the IQ Brain Screen reads Smart Motor - Port 6, Score = 0, Time remaining = 120, and indicates to press the X button to exit. Spin the Smart Motor in Port 6.
Sense It Challenge open on the IQ Brain Screen reads Distance Sensor - P7, Score = 0, Time remaining = 120, and indicates to press the X button to exit. Move your hand closely in front of the Distance Sensor in Port 7.
Sense It Challenge open on the IQ Brain Screen reads Bumper Switch - Port 8, Score = 0, Time remaining = 120, and indicates to press the X button to exit. Press the Bumper Switch in Port 8.
Sense It Challenge open on the IQ Brain Screen reads Touch LED - Port 9, Score = 0, Time remaining = 120, and indicates to press the X button to exit. Press the Touch LED in Port 9.
Sense It Challenge open on the IQ Brain Screen reads Smart Motor - Port 10, Score = 0, Time remaining = 120, and indicates to press the X button to exit. Spin the Smart Motor in Port 10.
Sense It Challenge open on the IQ Brain Screen reads Smart Motor - Port 11, Score = 0, Time remaining = 120, and indicates to press the X button to exit. Spin the Smart Motor in Port 11.
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