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UnitGrades 5 - 8

What Is a Computer Program?

A screen capture image shows a series of symbols and icons representing a LEGO EV3 robot program. A photograph of a girl sitting cross-legged with a laptop and both hands raised in victory.Students explore the logic behind programming

This unit is composed of four lesson/activity pairs designed to introduce students to programming skills using LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 robots by having them learn and develop programs to control taskbot movements. The unit is the third in a series and follows Humans Are Like Robots (unit 1) and Our Bodies Have Computers and Sensors (unit 2).

Students first gain an understanding of algorithms. Then they are introduced to programming via quick programming using the LEGO intelligent brick (computer). Then they move on to program with move blocks using the LEGO software on a computer. Next, they learn about conditional commands and how to program using sound and touch sensors rather than by specifying exact durations. Eventually, they program LEGO robots using combinations of move blocks, wait blocks, loops and switches. In the final activity, students use Android phones with Bluetooth wireless connections to remotely guide their LEGO robots through a maze.

To help convey the concepts, students occasionally act out maze demos. Students also learn about electrical connections, both wired and wireless, and their pervasiveness in our world. They follow the Morse code rules in order translate a few phrases into Morse code while learning that it is a communication method that takes advantage of on/off states to transmit messages by electrical bursts.

Through assorted programming challenges, students become familiar with the steps of the engineering design process, especially gaining experience with iteration in order to achieve successful programs. While performing fun activities with the EV3 robots, students may not realize that they have learned computer programming in the process. The activities open students' eyes to how similar logic programs are incorporated into the many everyday devices we use.

Throughout this unit, each group of (2-4) students requires all or portions of the following items:

Specific and/or additional required materials are indicated in the individual lessons and activities.

Note: This activity can also be conducted with the older (and no longer sold) LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT set instead of EV3; see below for those supplies:

  • LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Base Set
  • computer loaded with the NXT 2.1 software

We interact with computers and their programs in uncountable ways during our everyday lives. Engineers in all fields use and design computer programs to perform calculations, run simulations, program machines and much more. When you turn on any computer, a program called the "operating system" runs and lets you access the various computer and software features. The computers, tablets and phones that students use contain all sorts of programs and "apps," and it is important for them to understand that people have created them. As computers are increasingly used to tackle all types of problems, learning how to program becomes an essential skill for most engineers—and everyone!

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