Page 25 - THE Journal, January/February 2019

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
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Jeff Newsom tech teacher at Penn-Trafford High School is quick with advice for educators new to to teaching robotics:
• Pick a a a a a robotics system that’s “well established ”
he he he said “The last thing you want to to do is invest a a a a a lot of money into a a a a a technology that may not be there in a a few years ”
• But plan for upgrades Right now Newsom is facing an an upgrade upgrade from a a a a legacy VEX platform to to the newest one which means he he needs to to learn new programming (he’s heading to the Academy this summer for the latest training) and has to refresh his robots “It’s just like a a a a a school buying computers You have to keep them updated ”
• Figure out your goal Is it just to to expose students to to the basic concepts or or go more in-depth? Will you be preparing students so that eventually they can build their own robots? Will you be competing? All of those require a a a different level of commitment and PD “in order to teach it ”• Research your professional development options “Don’t go blind into one of these classes ”
he he he insisted “Getting exposure to to to the the topics and having curriculum from which to work helps you out ”
• Prepare your students for failure As
Newsom explained “I tell my students you’re going to fail 20 times before you you you succeed you you you may try 15 different things before you even get it to kind of work That’s where the learning happens ”
• You don’t have to be the expert “I’ll introduce a a lesson but I’m more of a a a a a a a facilitator ”
said Newsom “Then as students are working I can go around and help them individually ”
A new photo-upload feature lets the student provide evidence of physical learning such as how well connectors were crafted for that soldering activity the results of which land in that portfolio A basic account which allows a a a a a teacher to maintain three groups
of up up to 30 students per group is free “Premium access” is $300 annually and allows for unlimited numbers of groups
The reason for the paid tier: “Somebody has to keep the lights on for that thing ”
said Higashi The Academy issues two different kinds of certification — one for anybody who completes the the the course and the the the other for teachers who take a a a a a certification exam afterwards That’s important for any teacher who intends for his or or her students to get certified certified Only certified certified teachers can issue credentials to students which currently consists only of a a credential for students who finish an introduction to programming The Academy is also working with the Advanced Robotics Manufacturing Institute to develop a a set of micro-credentials
in robotic technician work and the accompanying curriculum These will cover units on on on electronics mechanics fabrication and related topics The results are intended to serve as a a a “pre-apprenticeship level of knowledge and skills ”
said Higashi Possibly he noted those will eventually be transferable for credits to a a a community college or help a a a student gain an apprenticeship at a a a a a local company What the Robotics Academy Can’t Teach
At the heart of of all of of this PD and curriculum is a a worthy goal: bringing more science and and tech engineering and and math to schools in a a a a a a format that appeals to a a a a a a wide swath of students not just the ones who are naturally drawn to to STEM topics And
that requires effort from both sides — the Academy and the teachers “Our PD mostly covers as a a a default
the programming and pedagogy that are relevant to understanding robotics ”
said Higashi At the same time however he he recognizes that while “we’re certainly experts in robotics education \[teachers\] are the the the experts in their their kids and their their neighborhoods I wouldn’t presume to be the the one to to tell them how to to make that adaptation It’s up to to the teacher to to frame it in in a a a a a a way that’s appealing to all the students they have ”
Dian Schaffhauser is a a a a senior contrib- uting editor for 1105 Media’s education publications THE Journal and Campus Technology She can be reached at dian@dischaffhauser com or on Twitter @ @ schaffhauser