NRI: Co-Robots to Engage Next Generation of Students in STEM Learning

机器人技术越来越多地出现在工作空间和家庭中。保持对机器人研究和教育的投资对21世纪的美国经济至关重要。机器人技术不仅有可能改变工作场所和家庭，而且还有可能改变教室。密歇根理工大学的这个项目将介绍两个合作机器人的使用，即与人合作的机器人，作为教学工具。GUPPIE是一架无人水下滑翔机，可以监测和检查环境，将被用来向学生介绍机器人作为日常生活中的共同探险者的想法。Neu-Pulator使用来自人肌肉的电信号来控制它的运动；如果没有这种人类互动，它就不能运行。Neu-Pulator将使学生接触到机器人辅助技术，这些技术可以增强人类的能力，增加他们的机动性，并改善他们的总体福祉。这两款合作机器人的成本都很低，它们的使用适用于从四年级到研究生院的各种教育环境。这两个合作机器人的使用将被整合到中学生的动手课堂和暑期项目活动中。这些活动还将纳入与国家中学课程标准相关的概念。合作机器人平台预计将利用学生的左右思维，鼓励与团队合作伙伴的社交互动，并在工程核心概念和解决当今最紧迫问题所需的技能之间建立明确的联系。该项目将调查这样一种假设，即与更普遍的基于任务的机器人竞赛活动相比，一些女孩对基于应用的合作机器人活动更感兴趣。面向今天的学生和明天的劳动力的下一代科学标准为在课堂上使用交叉概念和学科想法提供了一个课程框架。这个项目的总体目标是开发和评估两个联合机器人平台在对学生有社会意义的学习环境中的使用。中学生，特别是代表不足的学生(来自农村、低社会经济地区的女学生)将是这项工作的重点。具体目标是：1)优化用于教授STEM概念的联合机器人平台设计，2)利用联合机器人平台开发教育活动/课程，以及3)调查联合机器人平台在吸引学生参与STEM学习方面的有效性。利用3D打印为机器人制造部件将扩大学生可以开发的可能设计的范围，并减少这样做所需的时间。在课堂上、放学后或通过暑期项目使用协作机器人的动手活动将把科学和工程标准与中学课程中的核心教学概念结合起来。在线传播培训模块和有效做法将使平台在全国范围内可用。评价将调查这样一种假设，即一些女孩的兴趣和创造力在基于应用的合作机器人活动中比在基于任务的机器人竞赛中表现出更大的增长。研究人员将评估学生设计的复杂性和创造力。该项目还将审查每个机器人活动的学生作业产品，以评估学生对相关标准的成绩。

Robotic technologies are increasingly present in work spaces and homes. Maintaining investment in robotics research and education is vital to the 21st century US economy. Robotic technologies have the potential to transform not only the workplace and home, but also the classroom. This project by Michigan Technological University will introduce the use of two co-robots, robots that work cooperatively with people, as teaching tools. GUPPIE is an unmanned underwater glider that can monitor and inspect the environment and will be used to introduce students to the idea of robots as co-explorers in everyday life. Neu-pulator uses the electrical signals from a person's muscle to control its movement; without this human interaction it cannot operate. Neu-pulator will expose students to robotic assistive technologies that can enhance the capability of human beings, increase their mobility, and improve their general well-being. Both co-robots are low cost and their use is applicable in educational settings ranging from the 4th grade through graduate school. Use of both co-robots will be integrated into hands-on classroom and summer program activities for middle school students. These activities will also incorporate the concepts relevant to state standards for the middle school curriculum. The co-robot platforms are expected to utilize both right and left side thinking for students, encourage social interactions with team partners, and make explicit connections between engineering core concepts and the skills needed to solve today's most pressing problems. The project will investigate the hypothesis that application-based co-robotic activities will be of greater interest to some girls than the more prevalent mission-based robotics competition activities.The Next Generation Science Standards for Today's Students and Tomorrow's Workforce provides a curricular framework for using crosscutting concepts and disciplinary ideas in the classroom. The overall goal of this project is to develop and evaluate the use of two co-robotic platforms in learning contexts that are socially meaningful to students. Middle school students, particularly underrepresented students (female students from rural, low socioeconomic areas) will be the focus of this work. The specific objectives are to: 1) Optimize co-robotic platform designs for teaching STEM concepts, 2) Develop educational activities/curriculum utilizing co-robotic platforms, and 3) Investigate the co-robotic platforms effectiveness in engaging students in STEM learning. Taking advantage of 3D printing to make the parts for the robots will expand the range of possible designs that students can develop and reduce the amount of time necessary to do so. Hands-on activities using the co-robots in class, after school, or through summer programs will integrate science and engineering standards with core teaching concepts in the middle school curriculum. The dissemination of training modules and effective practices online will make the platforms accessible nationwide.Evaluation will investigate the hypothesis that the interest and creativity of some girls will show greater increases with application-based co-robotic activities than with mission-based robotics competitions. Researchers will assess the complexity and creativity of student designs. The project will also review student work products from each robotics activity to assess student achievement of relevant standards.