The primary goal of these activities is to increase students’ understanding of robots and programming. In addition to a Web quest that introduces students to the definitions and history of robots, attention is focused on designing and building robots and learning and developing programming skills by navigating the robots through a series of challenges. The secondary goal is to develop problem-solving skills in a cooperative environment.

In this collaboration, the initial activities, focusing on programming, take place in the Computer Literacy class.

• Students learn the basic commands needed in the programming language Logo to move a turtle on the screen.
• Students apply this knowledge to the control of preassembled robotic vehicles.
• Working in small groups, students are introduced to specific robotic commands of Logo needed to control the outputs and inputs of a robotic vehicle.
• Students learn to direct the travel of a vehicle through an infra-red transmitter both in direct mode (within sight of a desktop computer) and by writing programming modules which are sent to the five program slots on a vehicle’s microcomputer (for independent operation away from a desktop computer).
• After a basic knowledge of the Logo robotics commands is demonstrated, groups are given specific challenges to accomplish through trial and error.

When the students arrive in technology education class weeks later, they come with a basic proficiency in programming robotic vehicles. Emphasis is shifted to robotics, and students are grouped in teams of three to five, depending on the class size.

A review of a web quest that students engage in stimulates discussion regarding topics such as the definition, origin and roles of robots. Web quests can be designed according to time constraints. Where more time is available, the web quest can be a several-day critical-thinking project.

Each team then engages in a Technology Learning Activity in which they take on the role of being an engineering team. As such, they must design and build a robotic vehicle that will compete in challenges that test both their robotic designing and programming skills. Points are accumulated for accomplishments during the challenge as well as proper documentation of the engineering design process.

These activities motivate most students to become involved in designing and making robots and programming them to successfully perform.