Teach STEM Concepts
with VEX GO
Educational robotics is a highly engaging way to teach STEM subjects in primary schools. It helps children to understand abstract concepts by transforming them into tangible, interactive experiences that combine their natural curiosity and love of play with fundamental skills in Computing, Science, Design Technology and Maths.
It’s easy to think of educational robotics as a resource that belongs in Computing, so in this article we’ll explore how VEX GO can be used to support the teaching of all STEM subjects in Key Stage two. We are also conscious of the fact that not all teachers will consider themselves STEM specialists. To help all teachers to be able to deliver these subjects, VEX GO is supported by STEM Labs and Activities - comprehensive plans that guide you through each lesson step-by-step and require no specialist knowledge.
Computing
Let’s start with the most obvious subject. With coding as a core part of robotics, Computing is where most of us would expect robotics to fit into the curriculum.
VEX GO supports the primary computing curriculum by introducing key programming concepts such as:
STEM Labs
VEX Robotics STEM Labs for VEX GO will often use the PRIMM approach for teaching coding. PRIMM (Predict, Run, Investigate, Modify & Make) is a step-by-step approach which helps children to better understand coding.
Predict - Students can have a look at the provided pre-made code and make a prediction about what the outcome of running the code will be.
Run - Students run the code and compare their predictions against the outcome.
Investigate - They analyse their comparision and see if they can figure out which part of the code caused which action. This can expand further when students consider how these parts can be changed.
Modify & Make - Using all previous investigation and analysis students then take steps to modify the pre-made code and make it into something new.
A great example of the STEM Lab resource is VEX GO STEM Lab: Code Base.
This unit of learning has 4 modules which use a simple robot and included sensors to explore robot behaviours, controls, commands, different sensors through navigation challenges.
Creating algorithms
One of the more clear-cut concepts VEX GO can introduce is Creating Algorithms. To make their robots move and perform specific tasks, students must plan sequences of instructions. Once this is completed on paper, they can then input their code into the robot.
Decomposition
Next is Decomposition, something which will occur while students are creating their algorithms. Whether it occurs naturally or after prompting if they are struggling, students will break down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts. I.e, separating a robot's movement into individual steps.
Debugging
Robotics is a great way for students to visually observe and identify the bugs (errors) in their code. By seeing how their code moves the robot when compared with what they were expecting, students can then work backwards to find the error and fix it.
Programming Languages
VEXcode GO is a block-based coding interface that is intuitive for young learners, gradually introducing concepts like sequence, loops, conditionals, and variables.
But VEX GO doesn’t stop there - children with more advanced programming skills can code VEX GO using Python or the innovative Switch programming language which integrates Python into the block interface to help students transition from block to text coding.
Computational Thinking
One of the outcomes of teaching students the concepts of algorithms and debugging is a development in thier computational thinking skills - i.e the ability to apply logical reasoning to solve problems and design solutions.
These problem solving skills are vital in Computing, but are also vital in tackling various complex challenges in school and in life.
First Lesson
In the first lesson, students will be tasked to build the VEX GO Code Base - a simple robot chassis with guides provided, that is quick for small hands to assemble. Once built, they will use the remote control to drive the robot, in the aim that they will a feel for how it moves, and what control they have over it.
Second Lesson
For the second lesson, students will get the chance to design and implement code onto their robot. The code needs to move their robot through a slalom course autonomously (without student input). Students will need to plan the route through the course, and create a sequence of instructions using drive and turn commands.
This process will require them to think about the sequence of commands required, but also to estimate the distances that the robot will need to travel - a natural way to add simple maths to this lesson.
Third Lesson
Lesson three introduces an LED Bumper sensor which can be fitted to their robot to act as both an input and output. As an input, the Bumper can be used to control the parts of the code. Certain sections can be added which trigger upon contact with the Bumper. As an output, the LED colour can be changed to give feedback to the student.
Forth Lesson
The final lesson uses an optical sensor to help the robot navigate through a maze. Here the students will learn about how a robot can make decisions based on information it is getting from a sensor. This further their understanding of conditionals in coding.
Design Technology
Because VEX GO is a construction set, it provides a practical context for designing, building, testing and evaluating. There are numerous build instructions provided to help you to build different models and mechanisms, but VEX GO also gives a huge amount of scope for free builds where children can design, build and test their own creations using structural parts, gears, wheels, pulleys and more.
STEM Labs
A great example of the STEM Lab resource is focusing on Design Technology is VEX GO STEM Lab: Helping Hand.
To begin with students are tasked to build a claw mechanisim using a set of instructions, before conducting some tests to evalute its performance. They will then create designs based off their evaluations to improve ts ability o pick up specific items.
Design and make
Students can construct various builds from creatures to cars to robots using VEX GO. Each build they design and build increases their understanding of how the different parts in the kit function and interact with each other.
Use iterative design
Once their initial design is built, students can then experiment with different designs and configurations to achieve the best performance in a given challenge.
Problem-solving
Once they have worked on the given class-based challenge, students can then consider real-world problems and design and build solutions to this.
Material knowledge
By completing the various activities above, students will gain an understanding of the purpose and properties of the different VEX GO parts and how they fit together.
Evaluation
While completing the design, build and iterate process students are making many evaluations whether conscious or unconsciously. Through testing their designs, identifying areas for improvement, and refining their creations based on performance.
First Lesson
In the first lesson, students will use the supplied instructions to build the Claw and examine how the mechanism works before evaluation its ability to pick up various objects.
Second Lesson
For the second lesson, students will begin by sketching designs for adaptations based on their evaluation from the previous lesson. The aim is to improve the Claws functionality and ability to pick up specific items that it make have previously struggled with. They will then design, build and evaluate their own adaptations before repeating this process until the students evaluate that the Claw is at it’s most efficient.
Science
Educational robotics integrates scientific principles through exploration and experimentation. Students can experiment with simple machines such as wheels, gears, and levers as well as learning how to carry out tests, make predictions and collect and record data.
But it doesn’t stop there! VEX GO STEM Labs also explore other topics such as lifecycles, biomimicary day and night and magnetism - topics that might not immediately spring to mind when thinking about using construction sets.
STEM Labs
A great example of the STEM Lab resource focusing on Science is VEX GO STEM Lab: Day and Night.
The reason the Earth experiences day and night is an abstract concept that can be hard for students to visualise. This STEM Lab lets children build a model of the earth that is tilted on its axis and rotates, powered by a VEX GO motor, to get hands-on experience with this concept.
Forces and Motion
Students can observe how forces such as friction and gravity affect movements of their builds. They can also use their builds to understand concepts like speed, acceleration, and balance.
Energy transfer
Implementing the battery can get them to explore how battery power is converted into mechanical energy to drive their builds.
Simple machines
Having hands on experience with gears, levers, and wheels can help students in idetifying and understanding their functions within their builds.
Sensors
Students can learn about different types of sensors (e.g, touch and distance) and they collect data to allow the robot to interact with its environment.
Scientific inquiry
Through using the VEX GO kit and it’s various STEM Labs and Activites, students will be activley form hypotheses, conduct experiments, collect data and draw conclusions based on their observations.
First Lesson
In the first lesson, students will follow instruction to build a model of the Earth, Sun and Moon. They can then observe how the Earth rotates on its axis all while the Sun remains in a fixed position.
Second Lesson
For the second lesson, students will investigate why and how it appears that the Sun moves across the sky throughout the day. They can gradually rotate the model and observe the location of the Sun, relative to a specific position on the Earth as it rotates.
The most powerful thing about educational robotics is how it allows us to pull all of these subjects together into cross-curricular STEM lessons. Having connections between different concepts deepens the learning and encourages children to want to learn more. By learning how to solve problems in a logical way, students are learning how to learn more effectively by breaking tasks down and tackling one small part of the problem at a time.
Want to try VEX for yourself?
Our free demo kits give you the opportunity to try VEX 123 or VEX GO robots with your students.
