T.I.S.P.

TEACHERS IN-SERVICE PROGRAM

SEPTEMBER 7 AND 8, 2007

SYMBIOTIC SUPPLEMENT

THE ROBOT CHALLENGE

SIMILARITIES

• BOTH PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO S.T.E.M

• SCIENCE• TECHNOLOGY• ENGINEERING• MATH

BOTH SUPPORT SCHOOL SCIENCE CURRICULUM

DIFFERENCES

• TISP OFFERS MANY PROJECTS EACH OF ABOUT 2 PERIODS DURATION

• THE ROBOT CHALLENGE IS OF 2 TO 4 MONTHS DURATION, AND MORE CLOSELY SIMULATES A TYPICAL ENGINEERING PROJECT

SYMBIOTIC

• TISP STARTS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND GOES ON THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. STUDENTS BEGIN TO DEVELOP AN INTEREST

• THE ROBOT CHALLENGE IS DONE AT HIGH SCHOOL AND PREPARES STUDENTS TO MAKE A DECISION: WHETHER TO BECOME AN ENGINEER

WHAT IS THE ROBOT CHALLENGE?

• A HANDS-ON PROJECT WHERE A TEAM OF STUDENTS CREATE A WALKING ROBOT FROM PIECES OF WOOD, PAPER CLIPS AND BRASS FASTENERS, CHEAP MOTORS AND THREADED RODS, AND COMPETE WITH TEAMS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS, IN THEIR ABILITY TO:– COMPLETE A COURSE OVER OBSTACLES– WRITE A 30 PAGE TECHNICAL ESSAY DESCRIBING

THEIR EXPERIENCE– MAKE ON ORAL PRESENTATION BEFORE A PANEL

OF JUDGES

THE CHALLENGE

• STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SELECT THEIR OWN LEVEL OF CHALLENGE:– A 2-LEG ROBOT– A 4-LEG ROBOT– A 2-LEG ROBOT WITH AUTOMATION– A 4-LEG ROBOT WITH AUTOMATION

2-LEG ROBOT

2-leg RobotNotice 2 motors (legs) and 2 skids

4-leg robotNotice 4 Controllers, a longer body

and 2 legs that will be inserted each side

2-leg Robot with bodyand Automation Controller

Top view of Controller

Programming the Controller

The Judges

The Poster that the Penguin Team would present at the Oral Presentations

Oral Presentations

SUMMARY

• MANUALS, KITS AND MENTORING ARE PROVIDED BY IEEE

• COST VARIES ACCORDING TO THE CHALLENGE, RANGING FROM $12 PER STUDENT (FOR THE MOST POPULAR 2-LEG ROBOTS) TO $50 PER STUDENT (FOR THE MOST SOPHISTICATED)

• PROVIDES 2 TO 4 MONTHS OF CLASSROOM TIME