So many post, so little time!

Well, I have let a lot of time slip by between postings.  I guess I will have to give you the whirlwind tour of some of the stuff we have been doing.  We have only missed one class due being out of town (All State Orchestra).  Well, actually it would be more like 3 classes, if you combine Spring Break.

We had some more lessons in Programming.  We learned about the move block.

That was fun to see the reaction on the kids faces as they controlled their first robot.  The next class they got to control the movements of a NXT (child) with the use of a dolly to get to the designated spot.  That was a whole lot of fun because if the command was invalid, you couldn't move.  It is a great way to internalize how to program.

We had a few lessons around the Angry Bird theme.  The first lesson was to program and control the robot to crash into the Pigs.  Basically we had to program a series of commands to get to the Pigs fortress.  We also built Catapults and shot off the birds to land on the Pigs fortress.  We had to learn that we needed to be real quiet or else the Catapult would accidentally fire.

In Social Skills during this time we learned about one person talking at a time. If the child wanted to say something while I was talking, they had to press the sound command on the Laminated NXT.

During Spring Break a couple of kids were lucky to go to LegoLand in Florida and the new Lego Discovery Center in Atlanta, GA.

When we got home from Spring Break we had an Easter Egg Hunt with our NXT's and then got to do a real Easter Egg Hunt in the Museum.  That was a lot of fun.  This is what our robots looked like:

 This robot came from http://www.nxtprograms.com/claw_car/index.html

This site is a great resource to building different kinds of robots.  I feel that they will be able to think of more options building a robot for FLL if they are exposed to many different designs. 

Sci-Quest has been so accommodating and we are very grateful for them.

We also learned about gears.  We have been doing a couple lessons on building with gears.  I let the kids go into the Sci-Quest Museum to find objects that used gears.  I think we found almost around 25 gear combinations including Pulleys.  The kids got to take home a handout of different gear combinations that were illustrated.

We weaved our social skills lesson around the gears talking about conversations.  Conversations need to mesh like gears do and flow slowly.  The Green Zone illustrates this in the picture below.

We practiced our skills playing Lego Games which have been very popular.  As we get towards the end of the year it will be harder and harder to capture their attention due to the excitement of the end of the school year.

We still have lots to learn.  It is hard to capture the kids attention but when we do, you know it.  They have a great time.  When they are too excited we have a harder time.  You have to find the middle ground and accommodate all the kids who are on different levels.

Next things to think about is, "Do we want to form a non-profit?" so we can pay someone to do the social skills?  We would also like to earn dollars so we can buy at least one kit per child, and one resource parts kit per child.  I have supplemented the legos with ones I have brought from home.  Well, this is just something to think on because there is a lot involved in forming a non-profit.  I don't know if I am ready for that.

Visitors

I love it when visitors come!

One visitor we have had is the head of the Robotics Department at Sci-Quest.  His first name is Chris.  He seems to stop by to see what we are doing most Fridays.

He brought in some of his robots to show to the kids.  They are very interested in all that he contributes.  One of his robots has a drag system instead of a caster wheel.  One class I would like to test out which system works best.

Chris said that he would help us in anyway we need it.  The robot he is showing here is from the First Tech Challenge.

I just want to say how wonderful Sci-Quest has been in this whole adventure.  We come every Friday rain or shine.  They have a room waiting and ready for us with a projector that has internet and powerpoint capabilities.  The room is big with 5 tables so we can spread out.  Angela Moulton has been the driving force behind all the accommodations we receive.  Sci-Quest has been so generous in helping our kids.  Thank you, Sci-Quest!  We couldn't do it without you!

Five Kits

I didn't realize how hard it would be to rotate 5 kits between 2 classes.  I bought two more kits for Christmas, but they are the retail sets.  The retail version doesn't have the sound sensor.  It includes a colored light sensor instead of the black and white light sensor provided in the educational kit.

This past week Group 1 worked on building a NXT robot that has several attachments.  The plans included a sound sensor for which I only have 5 sensors.  When we have class, each child wants to work on their own robot.  I told the kids that during the FLL season they will have to come up with their own design.  We are going to test out many designs.

I have to figure out how to teach Group 2 using those same kits with the partially built robots.   I think I figured out how to do this, even though it takes a lot more work.  After I get done with the first class, I take apart the robots and then let the second group build their robots. Then when I get to the next class of the first group, I have to make sure the robots are assembled to the step they were on so they can continue building. Does that make sense?

I also figured out how to construct a light weight portable table to use. I have taken the educational play mats that fit together like a puzzle and made a table top out of them. On the edges I put a foam border using pipe insulators. The puzzle mat fits perfectly! Now all I have to do is make a bag to carry it all in. I have to test it out first on the floor before I put it on a table. I would not want a NXT to go over the border and come crashing down to the floor. This table will be useful off season to practice on.

After we build our basic NXT robots with sensors we will test them out on our new portable table. I am going to have my son demonstrate the programming.

Building NXT's will give the kids a sense of accomplishment.

10 More Kids....Group 2

We also had our first lesson and got to know each other. One of the problems I encountered was we were changed to a different room, which threw me for a loop. I was not expecting this nor did I even anticipate it. We had to do some quick thinking about how to present our lesson. Sci-Quest helped in hooking us up to a big screen TV that also had a internet connection.

Unfortunately, we hit another snag. This snag had to do with the Powerpoint lesson I had prepared. It must have been on another flash drive, because it wasn't on the one I had brought. I guess we put "Flexible Thinking" into practice. I wouldn't be able to do everything if it weren't for the help of the Parents, Jane and Sci-Quest.

What we did....we used our imagination and built little miniature robots. This was a lesson to see how creative we are.  We then glued the robots into a plastic ball. We got to take our ornaments home as a present from my son, who has been learning about giving to others (which he does readily). We also had a another building activity to learn how to build strong structures out of Marshmallows, Gumdrops, Toothpicks, and Spaghetti.

We learned a little about First Lego League and our Mindstorms robot kits. We learned that it is important not to run our robots on the tables so they don't break. We also learned what the missions and project aspect were all about in the FLL.

We rolled out our puzzle mat and discussed how we were going to build, program and then create our own missions. The missions will be geared around our interest, which are varied.

We also saw a demonstration of two robots I had created to show what a robot was (Spider and Mini-Rex) and does. We are going to be so prepared for next years challenge instead of trying to cram in how to build and program and research in such a short time.

Our social skills lesson dealt with teamwork, and being flexible.

I saw a lot of smiles on faces and excitement in their eyes. The kids are a joy to work with. They have some of the most creative minds and I love how they associate things.

My favorite quote of the whole evening was when we were building strong structures. We were about to test the structures out when, one of the kids mentioned that (I don't remember the exact wording), ... we should have gotten some catastrophic builder's insurance just in case his group's structure wasn't sound. LOL! That was perfect and made my night!

1st Class a Success....

     The first class was a success - at least I think so!  We learned about ...working on a team; time limits; importance of building sturdy structures; what the rules of the class were; what is in the Mindstorms kit; saw a demonstration of a spider made from one of the servo motors crawl across the floor; and made our own little robot to show how much creativity we had.  The kids did great!

     That is a lot for a first lesson as I look back on it...and I didn't even get finished.  I had many more things I wanted to accomplish.  I wanted to show the social skills movie about being "Flexible" and do some programming with Robomind.  Those activities, along with more, will have to wait till next meeting.  There is so much to learn.  I get really excited with all the possibilities.

     After talking to the parents, we decided that we wanted to meet every other week, due to some scheduling difficulties with prior commitments.  That opened up the opportunity to teach another whole group.  We sent out our registration notice, and within 24 hours we had 10 kids sign up (we have 21 kids in all).  Some of the kids are older that might not be able to be on a FLL team, but they can certainly be mentors for FLL and still learn about robotics. 

     We, also unfortunately, had to create a waiting list for participants because of the overwhelming demand.  I might have to see if there is some other option, because I certainly don't want to turn anyone down.  The only other day I can teach would be Saturdays, but I am not sure if Ms. Jane or Sci-Quest can work that out.  I will have to talk to them...keep your fingers crossed.  :)

     Meanwhile, my living room continues to look like Legoland.  I have been trying to sort bricks, so I can just bring what I need.  I finally finished that but, I have got to get it all put away, so we can put up a Christmas Tree.  I am learning what it is to be a coach.  Well ... off to plan Friday's lesson.

 

An Accounting of What We Bought With the Grant Money

I wanted to post how we spent the Grant Money.  

We bought 5  LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT Base Sets...

which totaled about $1399.75

Then we bought 4 LEGO MINDSTORMS Education Resource Sets...

which totaled around $391.95.


Then we bought 1 software license for 79.95.  I actually have 3 from kits at home and 2 education kits software in all...

So we spent  $1871.65 in all for the kits.

We bought two rolling Stanley totes to carry everything in...

this cost about $80 approximately.

Then of course shipping for all the kits was about $130.  I could have bought one more resource kit if I didn't have to pay for shipping.

This totals: $2081.65

I had $2100 to spend.

I have also loaned about $350 worth of legos and 3 of my own retail Mindstorm kits (one-8257, two-8547).  Other purchases I have loaned are containers for the legos, three wheeled folding dollies, and a portable table.

The hardest part is transporting back and forth all the supplies.

Video for Social Skills

Waiting...Waiting...Waiting!  One of our first Lego Education Kits came in. Woo...Hooo!  I found a great deal off of Ebay for a Lego Mindstorms NXT Education Kit and saved our team $130.  The rest of the kits which were ordered from Lego Education have not arrived yet.  Meanwhile, I am not sitting back doing nothing.  I have gathered my team together.  I have planned my lessons on how to learn robotics with the NXT's.  I have started a facebook page to communicate with parents.  I have also created a video (for visual learners) to help with our first social skills lesson, which will be about being a flexible thinking person.  I used Xtranormal to make it.  I would show you a preview, but I can't because the kids haven't seen it yet. 

Why is being a flexible person important especially for kids with Aspergers? The play of a child with Aspergers is repetitive. They enjoy rituals and can prefer to do the same thing over and over again. They love sameness and are troubled by changes or unexpected things happening. When they interact socially with peers there is a lot of things going on that are unexpected since they are unable to control the behavior of the other children. For children with Aspergers the inability to be flexible and handle changes makes it very hard to interact with others on a social level. This can make teamwork, one of the first core values, a wreck just waiting to happen.