LEGO WeDo Introduction

LEGO
WeDo

Introduction

Module E

LEGO WeDo Introduction

•
In this module you will learn about

–
robotics in everyday use

–
how you can use WeDo’s to facilitate positive
youth development.

–
the WeDo kit and components,

–
the WeDo Activity Pack (LEGO curriculum)

•
Gain hands
-
on experience with a WeDo kit.

•
Resources

Everyday Robots

Everyday Robots

•
What is a robot?


Everyday Robots

•
What is a robot?

•
Definition of ROBOT per Merriam
-
Webster
Dictionary

–
1
:

a machine that looks like a human being and
performs various complex acts (as walking or
talking) of a human being

–
2: a device that automatically performs
complicated often repetitive tasks

–
3
:

a mechanism guided by automatic controls


http://www.merriam
-
webster.com/dictionary/robot

Everyday Robots

1.
What role do robots play in our daily lives?

2.
What is a career field where people work with
robots?

3.
What is your favorite fictional robot?



Everyday Robots

•
Examples of Robots in Use
Everyday

–
Military Robots

–
Unmanned Vehicles: Aircraft for
Surveillance

–
Industrial: Car Manufacturing

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Market_For_
Military_Robots_By_2016_999.html

http://www.tirekick.com/TK07/VW
-
Puebla.htm

Everyday Robots

•
Examples of Robots in Use
Everyday

–
Space Exploration
–

Mars Rover

–
Medical Robotics:
da

Vinci

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html

http://www.davincisurgery.com/davinci
-
surgery/davinci
-
surgical
-
system/

Everyday Robots

•
Examples of Robots in Use
Everyday

–
Toys: Zhu
Zhu

Pets
–

Robotic Hamster

–
Household Robots:
Roomba

Vacuum

http://store.irobot.com/produc
t/main_irbtEnhan.jsp?productId
=4447146

http://www.zhu
-
zhu
-
pets.com/

Everyday Robots

•
Robots are a part of everyday life.

•
Components of robotics such as sensors are in
many devices we use daily.

–
Ex: motion sensors are used to open automatic
doors.

•
Used by most people daily to offer
convenience and security.




Step 4: The WeDo Introduction

What is a WeDo?

•
WeDo is a LEGO product that
allows elementary aged youth
to build robots using LEGO
pieces.

•
Robots are connected to a
computer and programmed to
perform specific functions
using the WeDo software.

•
Each individual kit has
plans for 12 different
LEGO
robots.

•
More
building resources
are available through
LEGO.

What
Do
WeDo Robots Look Like?

Amazing Mechanisms

Wild Animals

Play Soccer

Adventure Stories

Great
introduction
to icon
programming
with friendly
step
-
by
-
step
directions on
the
screen.

Task pallet

WeDo Programming Software

Step 5: The WeDo Kit, Building Guides
and the Alligator Build


Inside the WeDo Kit

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Inside the WeDo Kit

•
LEGO Bricks


This image is a scan of the card board
insert provided in each kit.

Inside the WeDo Kit

•
Each kit contains a
Mini Figure with
interchangeable
heads and hat/hair

•

Three different
sized axles

•
Various gears and
other components

This image is a scan of the card board
insert provided in each kit.

Inside the WeDo Kit

•
Sensors

–
Light Sensor


–
Tilt Sensor


•
Motor



•
USB Hub


These images are a scan of the card
board insert provided in each kit.

The Building Guides

•
Makes the construction
process straightforward

•
Full color pictorial guide

•
Similar to most LEGO
build kit instructions

•
Very user friendly

The Building Guides

•
Amazing

Mechanisms

•
Wild

Animals

•
Play

Soccer

•
Adventure

Stories

Building the Alligator

Diagram of
completed
step

Identified
pieces use
to complete
step

Large white
number
indicating
each step

Building the Alligator

The Finished Alligator

The Check List

•
Is the gear is facing the correct direction?

•
Are rubber bands connected securely?

•
Is the motion sensor lined correctly?

•
Does the mouth open and close? Test Gear.

•
Are sensors securely attached to the USB Hub?

•
Are all LEGO bricks attached securely?

•
Look over entire build and make sure it is
identical to the guide.


Step 6: The WeDo Activity Pack

•
Curriculum

•
Add
-
on Software

•
Provides step
-
by
-
step on
-
screen instructions in building
and programming

•
Classroom type activities and
handout materials are
provided for each build

Review the Activity Pack

•
Page 80
–

Objectives

•
Page 81
–

Animated Movie and Discussion
Questions

•
Page 82
–

Construct, overview of mechanisms
and process

•
Page 83
–

Basic Functions of software

•
Page 84
-
86
–

Lesson Plan


Step 7: Programming with the WeDo
Software

•
Demonstration Video
(add link)

•
Alligator Build

–

stop animation movie
showing the alligator build itself

–
Click on the link above to launch movie (note:
movie must be embedded on
cd

with ppt. to
launch.)

•
Self Demonstration

•
Continue to ….(add link to page in
ppt
)

WeDo Software Introduction

•
Drag and drop icon based software

•
Provides an intuitive and easy‐to‐use
programming environment

•
Software automatically detects motors and
sensors when they are attached to the LEGO
USB Hub

•
Includes a Getting Started Guide with simple
building tips and programming examples


Desktop Icon

WeDo Software Introduction

Icon Palette

WeDo Software Introduction

Getting Started
Guide and
Activities
Button

Getting Started Guide

•
Each component
icon is clickable,
which leads to
further
instructions

The Alligator

Advance
Button

Advance
Button

On Screen Building Instructions

Start Programming

•
Plug in robot by connecting the USB to the
computer

•
Sensor icon should appear in upper left hand
corner
(insert
pict
. Of sensor)

Experiment with the Programming

•
Experiment with the program by adding
additional icons such as sound, backgrounds,
text or change the motor directions.

Programming Discussion

•
What was a challenge you encountered while
building?

•
Where there any challenges using the
software?

•
Was this easier or harder than you thought it
would be? Explain.

Step 8: LEGO WeDo Resources

•

Lego Education Resource for Teachers

–
www.legoeducation.us/global.aspx

•
Additional Activity Packs can be purchased to
add on to the four themed based builds


Additional Robotics Resources

•
LEGO Education Resource for Teachers

–
http://www.legoeducation.us/global.aspx

•

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST)

–
www.usfirst.org

•

Jr. First LEGO League

–
www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/jfll

•

First LEGO League

–
www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/fll

•
KISS Institute for Practical Robots: Robotics Laboratory: Wheels and
Navigation Activity

–
www.kipr.org/curriculum/wheels_nav.html

•

STOMP Sample Units, Activity Database


–
http://stompnetwork.org/stomp
-
resources

•

Carnegie Mellon University
–

Robotics Academy


–
www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/roboticscurriculum/index_to_robotics.htm

Additional Robotics Resources

•
Look for new contacts and volunteers to help
build your program.

•
Older more experienced youth can make great
mentors.

Youth Development Adaptations

Consider the following skills that can be developed through
WeDo projects and the Activity Pack projects



•
Youth are encouraged to use creativity, teamwork and
problem solving = life skills!

•
Youth develop language and literacy through narrative and
journalistic writing, storytelling, explaining, interviewing and
interpreting

•
Youth experience mathematics when measuring time and
distance; adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing,
estimating, and using variables.

Youth Development Adaptations

Consider the following skills that can be developed through
WeDo projects and the Activity Pack projects



•
Youth experience science through working with simple
machines, gears, levers, pulleys; and experimenting with
transmission of motion

•
Youth discover technology when programming; using software
media; and designing and creating a working model.

Youth Development Adaptations

•
How could youth use WeDo robots to perform
service learning?

–
(ex: providing a WeDo workshop for 4
-
H members)

•
How could a club use WeDo kits as a fundraiser?

•
How could a 4
-
H member use a WeDo kit in a
traditional 4
-
H activity, such as a county fair or
communications contest?

•
How could a teen leader use WeDo kits to do an
activity with junior members?


Questions