Class 41: Thursday, 1/9/25  Turn in your presentation

  1. Final work day
    1. Complete and turn in your presentation.  Make sure that it includes a good video that you can share with the class.  You must turn in a copy of your slideshow today.  If you want to improve it, you can replace it later.
    2. Disassemble your robot and gather all of the parts for making a TacoBot.
      1. Here's a link to the TacoBot parts list. 
      2. Organize all of the small TacoBot parts in the small tray sections of your bin.
  2. Exam Components:
    1. Share your presentation with the class. 
    2. Turn-in your bin and get it checked.  There will be a parts check.  For full credit, you must have all of the parts necessary for a Tacobot.
    3. Submit your slideshow in Google Classroom.

Class 40: Tuesday, 1/7/25  Work on your presentation.

  1. Work on final projects.  Counting today, you have 2 work days before the presentation day. 
    1. Today:  Work on your presentation.  Make sure that you have a good video that you can share with the class.
    2. Thursday before exams:  Finish your presentation; Make sure that all of the Tacobot parts are in your bin.
  2. On exam day -- share your presentation with the class.  Turn-in your bin and get it checked.  There will be a parts check.  For full credit, you must have all of the parts necessary for a Tacobot.

Class 39: Friday, 1/3/25  Testing, Coding, Troubleshooting

  1. Work on final projects.  Counting today, you have 3 work days before the presentation day.  Here's a good plan:
    1. Today:   Last day to code and troubleshoot.
    2. Tuesday before exams:  Work on your presentation.  Make sure that you have a good video that you can share with the class.
    3. Thursday before exams:  Finish your presentation; Make sure that all of the Tacobot parts are in your bin.
  2. On exam day -- share your presentation with the class.  Turn-in your bin and get it checked.  There will be a parts check.  For full credit, you must have all of the parts necessary for a Tacobot.

Class 38: Friday, 12/18/24  Testing, Coding, Troubleshooting

  1. Work on final projects.  Counting today, you have 4 work days before the presentation day.  Here's a good plan:
    1. Today:   Testing, Coding, Troubleshooting
    2. Friday after break: Testing, Coding, Troubleshooting -- finishing touches
    3. Tuesday before exams:  Begin Presentation
    4. Thursday before exams:  Finish presentation; disassemble your robot and start making sure that all of the Tacobot parts are in your bin.

Class 37: Wednesday, 12/18/24  Work on Final projects

  1. Work on final projects.  Counting today, you have 5 work days before the presentation day.  Here's a good plan:
    1. Today:  building, pseudocoding, begin coding
    2. This Friday:  coding, testing, problem-solving/troubleshooting
    3. Friday after break: coding, testing, problem-solving/troubleshooting
    4. Tuesday before exams:  finishing touches; begin presentation
    5. Thursday before exams:  finish presentation; disassemble your robot and start making sure that all of the tacobot parts are in your bin.

Class 36: Monday, 12/16/24  Work on Final projects

  1. Work on final projects.  Counting today, you have 6 work days before the presentation day.
  2. Let's make a plan for the next 6 days.

Class 35: Thursday, 12/12/24  Wrap-up drag race projects.  Begin Final Projects.

  1. Awards for 1st-3rd Place in the Drag Race.
  2. Briefly discuss submission of the drag race project.
  3. Discuss final project requirements and what to do today.
  4. Discuss the midterm exam.

Class 34: Tuesday, 12/10/24  Robot Drag Race Project  -- Competition Day

  1. Get your robot dragster officially timed and scored.
  2. Get a video for your slideshow.
  3. Finish your slideshow and turn it in.

Class 33: Friday, 12/6/24  Robot Drag Race Project  -- Day 4/5, continued -- Coding and practice

  1. Change the Day 4 slide to the "Days 4 and 5" slide.
  2. Contest on Tuesday -- next class!

Class 32: Wednesday, 12/4/24  Robot Drag Race Project  -- Day 4/5 -- Coding and practice

  1. Complete the Day 4 slide of the robot drag race slideshow
  2. Will we be ready on Friday?  Or do we need one more day?

Class 31: Monday, 12/2/24  Robot Drag Race Project  -- Day 3

  1. Complete the Day 3 slide of the robot drag race slideshow
  2. If you want help with pseudocoding, you can create your pseudocode with Mr. Stapleton.

Class 30: Thursday, 11/21/24  Robot Drag Race Project -- Day 2

  1. Discuss SumoBot project grades.  Here's the rubric that I used.
  2. Complete the Day 2 slide of the robot drag race slideshow
  3. Reminder -- when you insert a video into Google Classroom, make sure that you share it with your teacher (or any staff member).

Class 29: Tuesday, 11/19/24  Robot Drag Race Project  -- Day 1

  1. Presentation of the Sumobot Winners' Donuts!
  2. Together, review the materials in Google Classroom.
  3. I have not graded the SumoBot slideshows, so you haven't received my feedback on the slides.  I suspect that many of you need that feedback.  So, before you start working on these slides, we should go over the expectations.

Class 28: Friday, 11/15/24  Sumobot Wrap-up

  1. Get video of your robot during one of its rounds of competition.  If you didn't, then stage a match today.
  2. Semifinal 1:  Cameron vs Noah W. & Charlie
  3. Semifinal 2:  Sebastian vs. Willem & Gavin
  4. Finals
  5. Complete your slideshow and turn it in -- due before Midnight.
  6. Preview of the next contest:  Lego Drag Race
    1. Some example races
    2. More detailed information
    3. Some gear ratio videos:
      1. Crazy Fast...using cogs/gears...Lego Spike Prime...
      2. Gear ratios: How it works -- Lego Technic
      3. Never be confused by gear ratios...
      4. How gear ratios work
    4. Motor Data
      1. Large Motor Data Sheet
      2. Small Motor Data Sheet

Class 27: Wednesday, 11/13/24  Sumobot Project Day 6 -- Competition Day!

  1. Get video of your robot during one of its rounds of competition.
  2. Copy the Day 6 slide from the project template and paste it into your slideshow.  Then complete the slide (video and reflection).

Class 26: Monday, 11/11/24  Today's Focus: Sumobot Project Day 5

  1. Today is the last full class to work on your sumobot before the competition. The competition will held next class -- Wednesday. 
  2. At the very least, your robot must participate in the tournament by executing the following commands:
    1. Pause for 3 seconds after the button is pressed.
    2. Then begin to move around the board.
  3. Tournament Schedule (11 teams):
    1. Round 1 -- "Round Robin."  Compete against 3 or 4 other teams.  4 teams with highest average scores advance to the semifinals.
    2. 2 Semifinals -- 1 match
    3. Finals -- Best 2 out of 3.
  4. Work Time:  Complete the "Day #5" Slide in the slideshow.
  5. Charge your robot!

Class 25: Thursday, 11/7/24  Today's Focus: Sumobot Project Day 4

  1. After today, you will have one more class day to work on your sumobot -- before the tournament begins.  The competition will be held next Wednesday. 
  2. Work Time:  Complete the "Day #4" Slide in the slideshow.

Class 24: Tuesday, 11/5/24  Today's Focus: Sumobot Project Day 3

  1. After today, you will have two more class days to work on sumobots.  The competition will be held next Wednesday.  [The day 5 and day 6 assignments have been added to the slideshow template in Google Classroom.]  Video from class
  2. If you did not complete assignment #18 (pseudocoding), then do today's work as a group, with Mr. Stapleton -- on the east end of the classroom.  All students are welcome, even if you completed the pseudocoding activity.
  3. Work Time:  Complete the "Day #3" Slide in the slideshow.

Class 23: Thursday, 10/31/24  Today's Focus: Sumobot Project Day 2

  1. See who finished the day 1 assignment.  If you finished it, mark it done.  If you didn't finish it, finish it quickly.
  2. Preview the day 2 assignment together.  Complete part 1 (sharing slideshow links) together.
  3. Work Time:  Complete the "Day #2" Slides in the slideshow.

Class 22: Tuesday, 10/28/24  Today's Focus: Sumobot Project Day 1

  1. Introduce SumoBot Project -- review the rules
  2. Choose to work alone or with a partner
  3. Make a copy of the slideshow.  Share it with your partner
  4. Complete the "Day #1" Slides in the slideshow.

Class 21: Friday, 10/25/24  Today's Focus: Last day of the quarter

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 1:08.  Phones 1:13.  Bell 1:15.
  2. Meet with me individually at the beginning to discuss what you should work on for the greatest benefit.
  3. Complete assignments through #27.

Class 20: Wednesday, 10/23/24  Today's Focus: Last week of the quarter.  Finish the lessons through #27

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 12:33.  Phones 12:38.  Bell 12:40.
  2. Work time.  Complete through #27 by Friday (end of quarter)

Class 19: Monday, 10/21/24  Today's Focus: Last week of the quarter.  Finish the lessons through #27

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 1:08.  Phones 1:13.  Bell 1:15.
  2. Work time.  Complete through #27 by Friday (end of quarter)

Class 18: Thursday, 10/17/24  Today's Focus: Continue lessons and challenges.

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 1:08.  Phones 1:13.  Bell 1:15.
  2. Work time.  Assignments through #22 due today!

Class 17: Tuesday, 10/15/24  Today's Focus: Continue lessons and challenges.

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 1:08.  Phones 1:13.  Bell 1:15.
  2. Discuss Pseudocode Activity
  3. Bonus points for students completing assignments beyond #27.  #29 -- 1%.  #34 -- 2%.  #40 -- 3%.
  4. Work time.  Complete Assignment #22 by next class

Class 16: Wednesday, 10/9/24  Today's Focus:  Look at new deadlines.  Continue lessons and challenges.

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 12:33.  Phones 12:38.  Bell 12:40.
  2. Check out october 17th deadline ( 4 classes from now: 10/7, 10/9, 10/15, 10/17).
  3. And October 25th -- quarter deadline ( 3 more classes: 10/21, 10/23, 10/25)

Class 15: Monday, 10/7/24  Today's Focus:  Look at new deadlines.  Continue lessons and challenges.

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 1:08.  Phones 1:13.  Bell 1:15.
  2. Check out october 17th deadline ( 4 classes from now: 10/7, 10/9, 10/15, 10/17)...
  3. And October 25th -- quarter deadline ( 3 more classes: 10/21, 10/23, 10/25)
  4. Work time

Class 14: Thursday, 10/3/24  Today's Focus:  Continue -- make sure you finish the october 3rd assignments by Today!

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 1:08.  Phones 1:13.  Bell 1:15.
  2. Make sure that you finish the assignments that are due today
  3. Work time

Class 13: Tuesday, 10/1/24  Today's Focus:  Continue -- make sure you finish the october 3rd assignments by Thursday!

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 1:08.  Phones 1:13.  Bell 1:15.
  2. Presentation of the donuts!
  3. Make sure that you finish the assignments that are due on Thursday -- 10/3
  4. Work time

Class 12: Friday, 9/27/24  Today's Focus:  Most Unit 1 assignments are due today.  Contest #1 today.

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 1:08.  Phones 1:13.  Bell 1:15.
  2. Here's the updated challenge --  Updates are circled in light blue.  
  3. The challenge must be completed before the end of the block.  You can have up to three tries (2 minutes each), if there's time.  We will take turns.

Class 11: Wednesday, 9/25/24  Today's Focus:  Check your progress and decide your goal for the week -- continue coding exercises or work on the class challenge.

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 12:33.  Phones 12:38.  Bell 12:40.
  2. Here's the challenge -- .  The prizes will be donuts (or equivalent) for 1st-3rd place and bonus points (an extra 10% on one assignment) for 1st place.
  3. The challenge must be completed before the end of class on Friday.  You can have up to three tries, if there's time.  We will take turns.

Class 10: Monday, 9/23/24  Today's Focus:  Check your progress and decide your goal for the week -- continue coding exercises or work on the class challenge.

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 1:08.  Phones 1:13.  Bell 1:15.
  2. Describe the class challenge.  Here's a picture... .  The prizes will be donuts (or equivalent) for 1st-3rd place and bonus points (an extra 10% on one assignment) for 1st place.
  3. Decide whether to work on the challenge or continue assignmnets.  Are you caught up?

Class 9: Thursday, 9/18/24  Today's Focus:  Coding Exercises.  Try to work through the 2nd Unit -- Robot Movement

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 1:08.  Phones 1:13.  Bell 1:15.
  2. Make sure that you're actually completing the challenge -- if you want full credit.
  3. Next 2 classes -- brief interruption of the tutorials for a class competition.  Details will be provided on Monday.

Class 8: Tuesday, 9/17/24  Today's Focus:  Coding Exercises.  Try to work through the 2nd Unit -- Robot Movement

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 1:08.  Phones 1:13.  Bell 1:15.
  2. Let's rename your hubs with your name.

Class 7: Friday, 9/13/24  Today's Focus:  Coding Exercises.  Try to finish the first unit (programming the hub)

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 1:08.  Phones 1:13.  Bell 1:15.
  2. Check your assignments in Google Classroom and Powerschool.  I have entered zeroes in Powerschool for any unfinished assignments through #6 (advertising).  If you have a zero, complete the missing assignment and resubmit in Google Classroom. 
  3. I am in the process of updating Powerschool grades, but I only made it through assignment #7 this morning.
  4. I need to check a few more Google Drive Robotics folders (that you made last Tuesday).

Class 6: Wednesday, 9/11/24  Today's Focus:  Coding Exercises.  Try to finish the first unit (programming the hub)

  1. End of Block --- Clean-up 12:33.  Phones 12:38.  Bell 12:40.
  2. I need to check a few more Google Drive Robotics folders (that you made last Tuesday).

Class 5: Monday, 9/9/24  Today's Focus:  Coding

  1. Phones in the caddy -- I can remind you of the numbers.
  2. Make a note about clean-up time.
  3. I need to check a few more Google Drive Robotics folders (that you made last Tuesday).

Class 4: Thursday, 9/5/24  Today's Focus:  Begin coding

  1. Phones in the caddy -- I can remind you of the numbers.
  2. Make a note about clean-up time.
  3. Check your grade in PowerSchool and let's look at Google Classroom.
  4. I may come around to check the Google Drive Robotics folder that you were supposed to make yesterday.

Class 3: Tuesday, 9/3/24  Big Ideas:  Basic Programming

  1. Phones in the caddy -- I can remind you of the numbers.
  2. Make a note about clean-up time.
  3. Finish the TACObot and start Unit 1.
  4. Together, let's create a "Robotics" folder in your Google Drive for storing program files.  Save one called 9-3-24 Practice File.  When you complete a lesson or challenge by creating a new program file, name the file with the name of the activity.
  5. When you start the lessons, challenges, and quizzes, be aware that you can close the blue "sign-in" strip that sometimes appears at the top of the page.

Class 2: Thursday, 8/29/24  Big Ideas:  Build the TACObot and Begin Programming.

  1. Phones in the caddy -- I can remind you of the numbers.
  2. Fill out the student information sheet.
  3. Quick Videos About This Curriculum:  5 Big Ideas in Computational Thinking -- Link in the course expectations, in Google Classroom
  4. Let's figure out how to charge the hubs.  How about this?...
    • Label it with blue tape, with your number -- in a way that does not block anything important.
    • Leave it plugged in, and I will store it after 7/8.
  5. Finish building the Tacobot.  Then begin Unit 1 -- Programming the Hub with Spike Prime
  6. Have a great weekend!  :-)
Class 1: Tuesday, 8/27/24  Big Idea:  Welcome, get your Spike Prime kit, and start building the TACObot

Robotics (Mr. Stapleton)

Today:

  • Cell phones into the caddy.  Caddy slots are assigned based on alphabetical order.  I'll give you the order.
  • Discuss phones and being on time
  • Enter attendance in first 10 minutes
  • Course Expectations -- Google Classroom
  • Get kits.
    • Remember your numbers -- Box number, Caddy number, and Cubby number
    • Check for parts
  • Begin building the Tacobot
  • Clean up and store equipment.  Remember your number!
  • Don't forget your phones!