Resources+and+Teacher+Training


 * Contacts and Resources**

Free teacher training programs using leJOS programming on NXTs and RCXs as well as many other free courses (Java, Alice, Etc.) that also gain you PLU credits. This address will give you a list of classes being offered. They offer more than just robotics. @http://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/ice-gt/10
 * Georgia Tech**
 * Barb Ericson ericson@cc.gatech.edu**

Video of Georgia Tech's Robotic car. My students love this. @http://www.cbs46.com/video/13902614/index.html?taf=lnta

Robin Shoop and Norm Kerman **education@rec.ri.cmu.edu**
 * Carnegie Mellon**

Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy @http://www-education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/ Their week-long summer programs for Tetrixand NXT are great. If you can possibly afford to go or if your school can send you, go! The Robotics Engineering Student-Teacher CDs for the NXT icon-based programming language have been very helpful and provide many editable materials for classroom use. Well worth the $225. (I ordered and just received their new curriculum CD for programming Mindstorms NXT with RobotC but haven't used it yet.. You can review “Teaching ROBOTC for Mindstorms" for free at http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/robotc/webpreview/.

Carnegie Mellon also offers online courses if you can't do the summer course. You can find information about this course at @http://www-education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/teacher/distance_learning/new_dis_learn/index.htm

ROBOTC is a programming language that lets a programmer to take full advantage of all features of the NXT. It is also one of the languages allowed for FTC competition.To learn more about ROBOTC, go to:@http://www.robotc.net/lego/ Carnegie Mellons training materials include chapters on: • Thinking about programming • Speed and control • PID control • Sensors • Variables/passing parameters Included are: • 53 videos • Over 300 pages of printable PDFs • Over 30 example programs The Robotics Academy has posted a complete copy of “Teaching ROBOTC for Mindstorms” at:@http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/robotc/webpreview/ for your review. Email customerservice@robomatter.com for more info.

Carnegie Mellon also has four free webinars that can help students and teachers get started with RobotC. The webinars were led by o ne of the creators of RobotCand a very good.

Kristie Brown, LEGO Education representative for Southeast US. She is extremely knowledgable and very, very helpful. She was a science teacher and really understands teh classroom environment. kbrown@legoeducation.com Kristie's web site @http://www.legoedsoutheast.com/ which includes lesson plans and classroom management techniques and much more very helpful information.
 * LEGO**

RobotC leJOS LabView NXT G (2.0) - Just a brief explanation on this page, but there is a link to a video demo of how the software works. ( If you are buying for an FLL team, you get a team license which allows each team member to have the software on his or her computer.)
 * Languages**


 * Books**

This one is free! Tim Bell, Ian Witten, Mike Fellows Although the introduction says that the book was written for elementary school age students there are many activities that teach computer science concepts that older students will enjoy and learn from. The book is not robot-specific but gives students practice solving different problems than they do with robots, but still using some of the same tools. The book can be downloaded free at @http://csunplugged.com/ The site also has some videos of the activities and handouts and teacher notes that you can download and print.
 * Computer Science Unplugged**

Great book. Has the theme of an archaeologist and nephew entering a Mayan tomb. The NXT disarms traps, etc. that had been the job of spider monkeys in the days of the Mayan king. Provides lots of guidance on planning, design, build and programming but encourages students to come up with their own ideas.
 * LEGO Mindstorms NXT: The Mayan Adventure by Jim Kelly**

I think this book is super useful, almost essential if you're programming with NXT-G By the same author as The Mayan Adventure, but this helps you and students progress from beginner to more advanced NXT-G programming..
 * LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT-G Programming Guide (Technology in Action) by** Jim Kelly

Absolutely outstanding! If you are starting an FLL team you really, really need this book.
 * FIRST LEGO LEAGUE: The Unofficial Guide by Jim Kelly**

Sequel to the Mayan Adventure with more great challenges and design possibilities for your students.
 * LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0: The King's Treasure by Jim Kelly**

Really helpful. Ten robots students can build that only require the materials in the basic NXT education set. Students can build and program these, then modify them or simply get inspiration and create their own project. My students really liked the Candy Picker, Dragster, Bobcat, and GrabBot.
 * LEGO Mindstorms NXT One-Kit Wonders By Jim Kelly, Matthias Scholz, Christopher Smith, etc.**

Good book for beginners', especially, but with some fun builds and any student can do, adapt, or get inspired by.
 * LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 Discovery Book by Laurens Valk**

Definitely not for beginners, but if you have students who are learning C this book would be interesting. Your students could compare this to RobotC language, which I happen to prefer but that's probably just because I know it better :-)
 * LEGO Mindstorms NXT Power Programming: Robotics in C by John Hansen**

Excellent book for upper school students who want to use leJOS for programming NXTs. It incorporates science and math topics into the design-build-programming. Design/build directions, program examples, and explanations are included. Sample chapters/robots are Grabby Robots, Bite into Bluetooth, GPS and Harsh Terrain, Standing Tall.
 * Maximum LEGO NXT: Building Robots with Java Brains by Brian Bagnall**

Matthias Paul Scholz Building some of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions like the flying machine (OK, not really flying), aerial screw, and revolving bridge with NXTs. The author also has a web site with great NXT design to inspire students. @http://mynxt.matthiaspaulscholz.eu/robots/index.html
 * Advanced NXT: The Da Vinci Inventions Book (Technology in Action)**
 * PowerPoints about Programming and More**

My Bot'toberfest PowerPoint on Introduction to NXT Programming

PowerPoints and other information from the Bot'toberfest at the Atlanta Girls' School, October 15, 2007. (http://legoeducation.typepad.com/georgia/botoberfest-2007.html) - This links you to all the presentation materials provided by the people who lead the design, build, program sessions at Bot'oberfest. These are especially helpful if you are coaching or thinking about coaching an FLL team, but they are a good resource for a robotics course as well.


 * NXT websites**

FIRST site's FLL home page

FLL competition home page You can get to all the information about the competition from this link.

NXTPrograms.com Terrific site for lots of ideas for build, along with the instructions and programming. If you have a student who is having trouble coming up with a desing, he or she could build one of these, then modify and get some confidence to build their own design next.

http://mindstorms.lego.com/

http://www.nxtasy.org

www.thenxtstep.blogspot.com Great blog. If you have a problem or questions about NXT, this is a good place to go.

@http://www.legoedsoutheast.com/

www.legoengineering.com

@http://mindstorms.lego.com/news/

Sample RobotC code for Mindstorms - really useful @http://www.robotc.net/guide/sample_programs/index_nxt.html


 * FIRST Tech Challenge**

This uses the Tetrix platform - the NXT brick is the "brain" and there are plastic LEGO parts that let it connect with the. metal parts that the kids use to make a robot no larger than 18" x 18" x 18" when the competition round begins. This competition takes place on a 12' x 12; mat and is really exciting. Building is more challenging. Having a well thought out design plan before you start iscritical. This stage of FIRST competition brings in more engineering and more exciting skills for the students, they are even allowed to solder, if you can handle it! Whiel the Tetrix platform is not cheap, you can still build a very competitive robot for under $1,200 when you add in extra parts and backup motors.

The site below is good for the rules and contact information. @http://rcj.sci.brooklyn.cuny.edu/
 * RoboCup Junior**

CNN video of la2008's International RoboCup competition at Georgia Tech @http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/studentnews/08/09/transcript.fri/index.html

Good YouTube video of a sample of RoboCup Junior Competition @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptnQ8yXb0RI&mode=related&search=

FIRST home page
 * FIRST**

BEST robotics competition home page
 * BEST**