Option Topic: Robotics and Automated Systems

Option Topic: Robotics and Automated Systems 

Robotics

Reflecting on this week's presentation that covered the option topics of Robotics and Automated Systems I have pondered how a teacher might teach their students in an interactive and interesting way about this content. The likely unfortunate situation is that a teacher would just explain the information without giving students a chance to 'have a go' through hands on experience. I say unfortunate because today there are many different resources available easily that we as teachers can access to support and stimulate learning.

The following outcomes could benefit from a hands on approach:

5.2.1 describes and applies problem-solving processes when creating solutions
5.2.2 designs, produces and evaluates appropriate solutions to a range of challenging problems

The following video illustrates an example of teachers employing Lego to teach students about Robotics:

 

Video available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ORO5aWpInE

Similar to the way the Lego setups have been used in the above video, could they be applied to the previously mentioned outcomes. This website very briefly summarises some of the reasons for catering for different learners: Classroom Application of Learning Processes 

Automated Systems 

In regards to automated systems, a similar hands on approach could be employed, it does even say within the IST syllabus that students learn to: "demonstrate the operation of an automated system using Lego or similar" (ICT Syllabus, Page 39). 

An interesting way to approach the automated systems component through hands on work is to investigate project development and its associated processes and techniques. A case study could be a way that students explore how automated systems operate, perhaps doing a class excursion to a factory or firm where automated systems are used. 

The following video illustrates what this might appear as to students, as well as showing various automated systems in use:

 

 Video available from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA5krnTKTHY&feature=related

 

Core Topic: Software

Core Topic: Software

In regards to the Core Topic of Software, students need to know about 3 types of software and differentiate between them. Some of the content that is covered is summarised below:

Commonly application software is a good starting point, generally most students should be aware and be exposed to it. Additionally student's learning can be influenced initially with what software they have available. This may be dependent on

Application software includes word processors, graphic editing software and web browsers. Communication software (such as Skype or MSN) and business software (for looking after inventories for instance).

Supporting programs, the ones we don't particularly like to or need to see include:

Operating systems and utility programs, which assist all the other programs which run within the system.

Like application software, interfaces vary too:

• Command Line Interface - the old way of computing which requires a specialist knowledge for operation.
• Graphical User Interface - development being influenced by the brand of computer you use.
• Natural Language Interface - a new and challenging technology which is emerging. This potentially could dramatically change the GUI environment that we as teachers are used to. 

Teaching students about Software

A great deal of software can be used to support and aid student learning. It is important to remember that students aren't experts, but potentially they could be later on in life going on to specialise in a particular field. What is presented in IST is merely an introduction to a huge world of computing. 

Simple programs that form the bread and butter of what IST is about need to be used before jumping into deeper and more challenging content. Although this is the essence of what we start with as teachers in this area, it is very important that students are challenged and learn new things, there are risks with staying with easy content. 

As previously mentioned the IST program contains many different concepts, it is dangerous as a teacher to focus on learning the individual programs and not teach the concepts (Cameron, 2012). Leanne, presented the website Wix.com as a simple web design tool which could be used to teach the very basics of designing a web site, contrary to using a HTML program such as Dreamweaver. 

Another example of a useful resource is Googlesites:

Google. (2012). [Image]. Available from http://www.crunchbase.com/assets/images/original/0001/3969/13969v1.jpg

Finding a midway for teaching software?

For us as prospective teachers it is important to consider how much of our class time we should devote to conceptual understanding as opposed to teaching an individual program. On attending the Staff Development  Day at my prac school yesterday some of the workshops focused around using specific software. Reflecting on this, it is a risk to teach teachers how to use a specific program in depth without making sure they understand where it fits in, just like the way we educate our students. The risk of being attached to anyone software, such as Microsoft products, is that things change and software brands differ. 

This ironic video portrays the changing nature of computing, and technology in general. A comparison can be drawn with software:

Youtube. (2010). [Video] Available from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAG39jKi0lI

People and Networks

In this week the core topic was people and the option topic networks.

People

The topic of People is fairly important, not only from the point of covering the syllabus outcome, but also in regards to the personal futures and dreams that student's aspire too. The picture below sums up simply what many students think of potential career paths in computing. The people that work with computers are nerds, and work on their own. While for some this may be appealing, that is working independently it is not how businesses and employees operate, nor the ideal means of getting jobs done. All students need to be aware that people who's work is computers in not just this:

Image available from http://randyconnolly.blogspot.com.au/2007/03/careers-in-computing-high-school.html

 Image available from http://www.dtims.com/misc/careers.php

Students need to be aware that stereotypes exist, but need to be broken. This is part of the syllabus, but it is also important in life terms for students too. The video below confirms what has already been said about students approaching technology, particularly female students in regards to wanting teacher and professional input into how to use technology effectively. However, it also shows the potential for changing student's mindsets as you will see:

Video available from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E8mPSTgEFo

 Networks

The presentation and tutorial activity was focused on the option topic of networks this week. It effectively gave an overview of

This short summary by Sydney University provides many useful ideas in how teachers may approach educating their students about networks through social networking: The Internet and Social Networking

Such an approach may potentially engage students more in an age of virtual connectedness to a community through the eyes of young people, however teachers need to beware of school policy when utilizing any particular websites or social networks. The reason is given in this news article: Teachers banned from contacting students on social networking sites

Taking the raw information, in a similar guise to the video below, teachers might be able to make learning about networks more engaging and enjoyable. The group that presented this option topic yesterday, I felt in some ways achieved this. One example that stood out was teaching the various network topologies (ring, bus, star and meshed) by getting students to physically stand up, more around and get into the various shapes, then pass a ball around the network in the same way data would be transferred. It is this kind of approach that teachers need to adopt to make learning more interesting and meet the diverse needs of all sorts of learners.

 

Video available from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f9c6dIzCC8