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场所和家庭中。 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，也有可能改变课堂。 密歇根理工大学的这个项目将介绍使用两个协作机器人（与人合作的机器人）作为教学工具。 GUPPIE是一种无人水下滑翔机，可以监测和检查环境，并将用于向学生介绍机器人在日常生活中作为合作探索者的想法。 Neu-pulator使用来自人的肌肉的电信号来控制其运动;没有这种人类互动，它就无法运行。 Neu-pulator将让学生接触机器人辅助技术，这些技术可以提高人类的能力，增加他们的流动性，并改善他们的整体福祉。 这两种合作机器人都是低成本的，它们的使用适用于从四年级到研究生院的教育环境。 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中学课程国家标准有关的概念。 预计合作机器人平台将利用学生的左右侧思维，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。该项目将调查的假设，基于应用程序的合作机器人活动将更感兴趣的一些女孩比更普遍的任务为基础的机器人比赛activities.The下一代科学标准为今天的学生和明天的劳动力提供了一个课程框架，在课堂上使用横切概念和学科思想。 该项目的总体目标是开发和评估两个合作机器人平台在对学生有社会意义的学习环境中的使用。 这项工作的重点将是中学生，特别是代表性不足的学生（来自农村、社会经济地位低下地区的女生）。 具体目标是：1）优化协同机器人平台设计，用于教授STEM概念，2）利用协同机器人平台开发教育活动/课程，以及3）调查协同机器人平台在吸引学生参与STEM学习方面的有效性。 利用3D打印来制造机器人的零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，放学后或通过暑期课程使用合作机器人的实践活动将把科学和工程标准与中学课程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这些平台能够在全国范围内使用，评估将调查以下假设：与基于任务的机器人竞赛相比，一些女孩对基于应用的机器人合作活动的兴趣和创造力将得到更大的提高。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工作产品，以评估学生的相关标准的成绩。

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.