Project Title:
What�s Nxt in Nanotechnology?
Principal Investigator: Linda Hamilton
Organization: Linda Hamilton of Marshall University Math department
and Nick J. Rahall, II Appalachian Transportation Institute (RTI)
Address: 14 Dickson Lane
Barboursville
WV 25504-1111
Phone #: 304 696 3043 Math Dept.
(304) 696-7166 Red Rover Mars Station South Pole2 and SENSORS CITY
E-Mail: hamilton@marshall.edu
Total Budget: $10,000
Request from the Consortium: $5,000
Support from other sources: $5,000
Signature and Date:
________________________________________
Abstract, Goals and Objectives
The little yellow computer that students program to solve science,
math, and technology problems is moving to the Nxt stage on the next FIRST
LEGO League (FLL) challenge in Nanotechnology. I have used the yellow RCX
for my LEGO projects since they came out in 1998. The Nxt is the new, intelligent
LEGO brick connecting intelligent servo motors, new and improved sensors,
a rechargeable battery, Bluetooth communication, and new MINDSTORMS NXT
software platform. In the past I have worked with teachers and students
in over 20 Cabell County and the surrounding area schools to successfully
build and program robotic projects on simulated Mars terrain. During
the last two years, the FLL program�s themes have involved: 1) solving
the sorts of problems that people with different abilities face while overcoming
every day challenges, and 2) solving some of the environmental problems
that are affecting the world�s oceans. I am interested in continuing
this program with the two West Virginia NASA Explorer Schools - Mt. View
Middle School and Tucker Valley Elementary and Middle School - as well
as Huntington area schools, and discovering what students can learn through
the FLL�s 2006 challenges.
As our past LEGO programs have demonstrated, math, science, and
technology become personally internalized by students when they become
involved in building things with their own minds and hands. The results
from previous funding of this program have been extensive. I go into classrooms
where boys and girls have been equally recruited to participate in program
activities. Each year, all-girl teams and teams with minorities have been
very successful in FIRST LEGO League (FLL) International Robotics contests.
We believe that when girls are equally successful in computer programming
and practical use of technology it will help them to be successful in their
future efforts.
The LEGO Red Rover at Davis Creek Elementary Mars has operated continuously
since 1998 and has been teleoperated by people allover the world. The Nick
J. Rahall, II Appalachian Transportation Institute (RTI) is interested
in the engineering education possibilities of robotics, especially the
Red Rover Internet operation and hands-on transportation robotics building
and programming. As a result, RTI supports a Red Rover site at Marshall
University. Chris Rogers, the RoboLab software developer, has included
me in his SENSORS grant. So, there is RoboLab programming and Internet
data logging from the SENSORS CITY available to any interested person in
the world.
The LEGO City and Mars sites are freely available to students and
their schools. The classes I have worked in and teachers I have trained
and worked with have produced students competent enough to talk to Cabell
County Board of Education members, parents and other students. Last year,
FLL teams in West Virginia were fortunate enough to have international
connections with a team in Norway. During one of my summer training
weeks, three people came for robotic programming and building training.
Throughout the year the two groups exchanged programs and pictures.
It was much like the exchange of ideas and learning in Saturday Team times
in person at Marshall. The Norwegian team went on to win awards in the
Scandinavian tournament. Clearly, training does not always have to be in
the same location.
This project seeks to work with teachers to develop LEGO Robotics
programs for fifth through eight grade students in the two West Virginia
NASA Explorer Schools, as well as Huntington area schools. The project�s
primary objective is to engage students in building and programming robots
and actively learning such things as team building, problem solving, creativity,
and analytical thinking. During these exercises, the students will
be exposed to key concepts of math, science, computer technology, social
studies, communications and other areas, as directed by the State of West
Virginia�s Content Standards and Objectives. Another project goal is to
introduce transportation and other engineering related careers to these
students so they may consider continuing their education in one of these
many fields.
Project Implementation Methods
Groups work on challenges (including the FIRST LEGO League International
Robotics Challenge) at appropriate times during class, after school, or
during Saturday enrichment programs. Students will engage in programming
and hands-on building activities using engineering principles. While
performing these tasks, they will follow and expand on student and teacher
building instructions. Instructors employed by the Nick J. Rahall,
II Appalachian Transportation Institute (RTI) will undertake to match this
effort.
The Rahall Transportation Institute is a national University Transportation
Center housed at Marshall University. The methodology for program
delivery is worked-out on an individual basis with each school. School
visits are made weekly or bi-weekly either in the classroom or after school.
We find it is more effective to work with two to four students at each
session during a regular scheduled class to avoid disruption to teaching
schedules. As a math teacher, I find it extremely easy to make a student
hands-on project fit in with regular classroom topics. The LEGO Educational
teacher materials make it easy for classroom teachers to do the same.
After the students have been sufficiently introduced to engineering and
have learned to program LEGO robotics, the entire group works on building
and programming large projects, such as cities. One to five day workshops
are also effective in bringing in other classes and instructing teachers.
Classroom activities include graphing data and operating robotic vehicles
over the Internet, from one room to another, and at Marshall University�s
Mars Station, South Pole and other Mars stations.
For the teams planning to go to the West Virginia State FIRST LEGO
League tournament, there will be an intense 8-week period of teacher, parent,
mentor, and student involvement. This preparation will take place
both during and outside of school time to prepare for the 10 missions of
the International challenge. Preparation also includes a research
project on nanotechnology that the students will present at the FLL tournament.
Project Timeline
� Register Robotics Teams before September.
� Mid-September the FLL International Challenge is announced.
� Early fall order and purchase gears, motors, and other building
materials, as well as the team sets.
� Determine ways to accommodate other students in addition to those
previously presenting their interest.
� This will include some after school projects in current schools
and weekend �Team Time� at the Marshall University Marrow Library public
technology area.
� Work with each group from September through December on building
and programming projects.
� Assist with organization for the research presentation.
� In mid-October register teams travel to State Tournament.
� November - present projects to principals, parents, and other
classrooms.
� December - go to tournament.
� Work with teachers during the school year with classes that are
using the hands-on tools of these LEGO educational materials for covering
specific objectives in math and science.
Project Budget
Supplies and LEGO Nxt
Educational materials -Team sets and extra motors
$300 each for 12 groups $3,600
FIRST LEGO League and Tournament registration $200 each for
5 teams $1,000
Software RoboLab Nxt $400
Salary and equipment from RTI $5,000
Total $10,000
Evidence of Supportive Collaboration
Using LEGO Robotics in TAG classes has been so successful that the
Cabell County that the Board of Education�s TAG director has added LEGO
educational materials in two more classes.
School teachers in regular classes have appreciated me coming into
their classes to add to a graphing session or other math and science related
topic.
The Red Rover Internet connections at Spring Hill Elementary Math
and TAG classes exist because of the support of the school�s teachers,
principal, and the Cabell County School Board.
Nick J. Rahall, II Appalachian Transportation Institute (RTI) supports
the Red Rover site at Marshall University.
Tufts University's Chris Rogers, the RoboLab software developer,
has included me in his SENSORS grant. He continues to assist with RoboLab
programming for SENSORS CITY.
The Planetary Society lists me as a �Success Story� on their website
and has me �beta testing� the latest versions of its Mars Stations Red
Rover.
Methods for Evaluating Project Effectiveness
� Using the robotics rubric that was reworked last year for FLL,
we will compare the results of the old and new platforms.
� The Nick J. Rahall, II Appalachian Transportation Institute will conduct the group skills assessment and compile the data.
� Students and teachers will be surveyed pre and post on computer
use and science, math, and technology interest. Where parents are involved
they will be surveyed also.
Plans for Publicizing the Project
Newspapers and TV have been extremely generous in covering the ongoing
activities and final contests. As in the past, I will go to WV State Science
Teacher Convention and other conventions. For completeness, I post
pictures and descriptions of each activity on http://netapps.marshall.edu/lego.
Brief Resume
Mrs. Linda Hamilton, B.S., M.A.
� Marshall University math instructor
� Parent volunteer at Davis Creek Elementary
� Director of LEGO Educational projects at Davis Creek Elementary
� Teacher of LEGO classes after school enrichment
� Math technology, science, and robotics teacher at Marshall University
Continuing Education Children's College
� Taught math, science, and elementary education in Ecuador, Pakistan,
Rhode Island, Montana, North Carolina, Florida
� 30 years experience building LEGO projects
� Bachelor of Science degree in Math Education
� Master of Arts degree in Mathematics
� Presenter to local, state, and national Math and Science Teacher
Conventions
� Beta tester for Mars Stations Red Rover - a part of the Red Rover
Goes To Mars project of The Planetary Society, LEGO, and NASA
� Administrator at SENSORS, Science and Engineering NASA Site
of Remote Sensing of Tufts University, SENSORSCITY
WebPages and pictures on http://netapps.marshall.edu/lego
Web camera on http://legocamera.marshall.edu/
Teleoperate LEGO CITY at http://lego.marshall.edu/
NASA site of Remote Sensing on http://sensorscity.marshall.edu/
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