The Pre-Conference classroom activities are designed to provide specific lines of inquiry and to reveal students’ preconceptions about some of the concepts in the videoconference. Please have students also develop questions directly related to the focus questions.

Students should read "Let's Talk Robotics" and complete the Robotic Arm and End Effector activity. Students should focus on design challenges for both the robotic arm and object to be picked up, ie. how can the arm be modified for certain objects and what characteristics does the object to be picked up need to have. Students may also practice communication skills by having one partner close their eyes and by guided by the other partner as to how to pick the object up and place inside a cup. If craft sticks are cost prohibitive, posterboard cut in strips may also be used.

Let's Talk Robotics Link

1. Introduction
2. Discussion about the definition of Robotics
3. How NASA uses robots
4. Activiity and discussion on how to give accurate directions.
5. Components of a robot
6. How robots are designed and tested.
7. Questions and Answer session.
   

Students and Educators are encouraged to engage in lessons that build on knowledge gained in the videoconference. The Educator should nurture inquiry by challenging students to develop new questions and explore any misconceptions arising from the videoconference. Explicitly ask students to revisit their preconceptions and how they have changed.

NASA Education has many different types of multimedia materials which could be used to extend this lesson: Educator Guides, Educational Wallsheets, Lithographs, Videos, Bookmarks, Web-based content, CD’s and even other Digital Learning Network Events.

Educators can access the above mentioned materials at Http://www.nasa.gov
And click on for Educators.

Students should design an end effector to solve a particular task. Students should create a grapple like device as specified in the Humans and Robots Guide. Students may then challenge their classmates to adapt the grapple/ end effector to solve a task of their choosing.

Role of society in the development and use of technology

Students will explore the role of robotics and its place in society, how robotics has changed our current means of living.

NSTA Science Standards:

Science and Technology

Abilities of technological design

NCTM Mathematics Standards:

Specify locations and describe spatial relationships using coordinate geometry and other representational systems

Students will be challenged to give precise directions by describing a geometric figure to their partner. The figure will incorporate a variety of geometric forms and the great knowledge of geometry will increase the ability to give a quality description.