ERIC Number: EJ1016589
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Feb
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0018-9359
EISSN: N/A
A One-Year Introductory Robotics Curriculum for Computer Science Upperclassmen
Correll, N.; Wing, R.; Coleman, D.
IEEE Transactions on Education, v56 n1 p54-60 Feb 2013
This paper describes a one-year introductory robotics course sequence focusing on computational aspects of robotics for third- and fourth-year students. The key challenges this curriculum addresses are "scalability," i.e., how to teach a robotics class with a limited amount of hardware to a large audience, "student assessment," i.e., how to assess the students' success on robotic design and programming assignments, and "depth versus breadth," i.e., how to down-select content from the interdisciplinary field of robotics to computer science students. This is achieved by combining simulation-based laboratory assignments, which can be conducted anywhere and anytime, with compatible hardware devices that allow a seamless transition from simulation to real hardware, and a focus on performance-based assessment with an open-ended final project/competition. Content learning and retention is assessed for a subset of students who successfully went through the proposed curriculum. All class materials as well as hardware-in particular, a low-cost, highly articulated robotic arm developed for teaching advanced robotics concepts-are open-source and available online.
Descriptors: Introductory Courses, Robotics, Course Descriptions, Simulation, Performance Based Assessment, Competition, Computer Science, Teaching Methods, Assignments, Programming, Retention (Psychology), Student Projects, Student Evaluation, Cost Effectiveness, Concept Formation, Computer Software, Instructional Materials, Surveys, Student Attitudes, Undergraduate Students
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854. Tel: 732-981-0060; Web site: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=13
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A