Lego Mindstorms Robotics in a (Very) Small Liberal Arts College

Ellen WalkerComputer Science Dept.Hiram College

Hiram College Environment

Residential, undergraduate liberal arts college

Around 875 students, More than 50% women

Popular majors are education, management and biology

4 CS faculty, about 35 traditional majors

Mindstorms Robots at Hiram

Alumni gift in 1999: 6 kitsFirst-year colloquium courses: 1999, 2003Artificial Intelligence student project: 2000Would like to use in other courses…

… but see “Constraints” later

First-year Colloquium (FRCL)

General education course, chosen by topic (independent of major)

Maximum 15 students per sectionWriting across the curriculum (also critical

reading, presentation)Introduction to college life, liberal arts

Colloquium Assignments

Oral presentation: “Robot Article” Paper: “Fantasy Robot”Paper: “Research Proposal” Journal: “Mindstorms Lab Notebook”Group oral presentation: “Our Robot”

1999 - Recycling Challenge 2003 - Robot Pet Show

Mindstorms in the Colloquium

9-12 class hours for robot labs Lab exercises

Structural integrity (weak box / strong box) Drive train, programming (draw a square) Programming with sensors (follow the road) Team Design & Programming Challenge

1999 Robot Recycling Competition

2003 Robot Pet Show

Changes from 1999 to 2003

Science fiction theme -> “Robot friend”Competition format to exhibition format

Inspired by Turbak & Berg Robot Design Studio Hoped to attract more women (but did not)

Merge teams after first 3 labs for final project 2 kits for more creative projects

Earlier introduction of Mindstorms… … but never enough time in lab!

What’s Next?

Would like to use robots more! AI, CS 1, New robot course…

Hope to stay current with hardware, software & curriculum

Very small liberal arts colleges must deal with many constraints…

Constraints: Money

External donation bought first kitsNo budget for maintenance

Upgrades Replacement parts Batteries (covered by Colloquium slush fund)

Cover with lab fees?

Constraints: Time

Small college faculty must be “generalists” Never enough time to “perfect” a course

5-6 preparations per yearMost courses taught every 2-3 years

9-12 preparations over a 3 year period Major revisions needed every 2-3 times

Constraints: Staffing

No graduate students (TA or RA)Limited availability of undergraduate TA’s

All course alumni have graduated Exception: first-year courses, including

ColloquiumNo departmental laboratory staffHW / SW too specialized for college

computer center staff

Constraints: Space

No dedicated labs, just general purpose classrooms Robots in locked closet when not in use Students keep kits at “home” during

project time Lab use after hours requires faculty / TA

supervision

Questions?