Design Technology: Engineering VEX Robotics (Elective)

“In a small way human creative hands imitate this profusion of God, going beyond the minimum requirements of getting the job done. Creative hands are not content to spread on the frosting; they must make a tasteful arrangement of swirls and colour. They don’t just apply a coat of varnish; they polish the surface until it glows like satin.  Creative hands do more than plant seeds; they place them in a tasteful and eye-pleasing garden arrangement.” LeRoy Koopman

Overview

Students in this course will be introduced to the field of robotics and explore how they are used in our world. The VEX Robotics Design System, combined with Robot C software, teaches students how different aspects of engineering are used in the field of robotics. Students learn how to build, wire and program their robot as they explore how the hardware is entirely controlled by functions they create in software. Students will engage in solving abstract problems in computer programming acticities as well as practical hands on engineering tasks. Together, these will provide opportunities for students to develop, practice and demonstrate creative and critical thinking skills in all aspects of their work.

Aims

• Provide students with opportunities to apply maths, geometry and reasoning skills in practical, relevant and contextualised ways
• Students will explore computational skills through C+ programming, electronics and robotics
• Develop Technological, problem-solving and hands-on practical skills
• To solve an engineering problem, the students would need to design parts, build them, write code and then evaluate their success. This problem solving process will allow them to be inventors of both hardware and software in creative and exciting ways

Topics Include

• C+ programming and coding
• VEX robotics - Design and creating a robot
• Robot Wars - Challenge
• Engineering Challenge  

Time allocations

• 4 periods per cycle for a whole year

Pre requisites

• None

Requirements

• Levy Cost

Assessment

• C+ Programming and Coding
• Robot Design
• Engineering Design Process
• Robot Challenge
• Team Collaboration

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17