Each grant holder will receive educational sets to be used in the process of education with the usage of programmable robotic systems. These sets will be adjusted to the selected age groups. Additionally, thanks to participating in project grants, the grant holders will obtain knowledge necessary to run classes with the usage of micro controllers.
Pupils of classes from IV to VI of primary schools
The range of trainings in the framework of project grants will be implemented on the basis of a set of development board which are designed in a way which enables to introduce programming and algorithmic thinking for the youngest pupils in a small compact set which will provide every young child with a fluent start. Thanks to a possibility of programming the devices from the field of mechatronics, the participants of scientific circles will obtain the skills necessary to deepen their knowledge in the field of algorithmic and its application in the field of mechatronics, electronics and automatics.
The educational model is based on microprocessor. On the board with small dimensions (50 mm x 50 mm) are placed e.g. accelerometer, magnetometer, temperature sensor, LED matrix, as well as Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Thanks to the special compact structure of this type, embedded systems are resistant to any damage. The system is ready to work, after unpacking, you can work on the implementation of solutions in a graphical language (similar to Scratch) or in Python. The systems can be programmed using a web editor, a dedicated microbit editor or the Mu editor. The code of the implemented algorithm can be sent to the device by communicating via USB or Bluetooth, also including transmission using mobile devices.
It must be underlined that while having fun, young enthusiasts of new technologies learn programming in almost every sphere of interest of a young person from implementation (e.g. a task of automatic measurement of soil moisture and flower watering) to robot programming.
The planned set consists of systems to design and program robots of the different types allowing to build and program the systems taking the different functionalities into consideration.
Pupils of classes from VII-VIII of primary schools
The trainings in the framework of project grants for the elder pupils of primary school will be based on the systems which allow to program the micro-controllers in sets. These kinds of sets are designed in such a way to enable the programming in the simplest way and the development of algorithmic thinking.
The pupils, on the basis of the prepared sets which will include the elements of mechatronics, automatics and robotics will deepen their practical knowledge on algorithmic issues on the basis of real programmable sets. The algorithms to process the data which will be prepared in scientific circles will solve the problems presented for a group of pupils taking into consideration the context of working environment. This will definitely increase the awareness of the meaning of algorithmics and will allow to test the implemented algorithms in the practical environment. The pupils will obtain the skills and competences connected with gathering the data and processing information in the aspects of IT work.
The teachers equipped in the prepared set of tools will be able to implement numerous projects with the usage of software and hardware elements developing abstract thinking among pupils. Since the described tools are developed on the basis of
OpenSource
licences, there are many ways of programming them. Depending on the pupils’ skills this can be visual programming or using script languages (Python) or the structural language of a high level (C language). Such a wide
range of possibilities will greatly enable the work with equipment and the obtained time will allow for a more effective work on algorithmic solutions.
The planned set includes, in addition to the embedded systems mentioned above, also different types of sensors and robots.
Students from secondary schools
The trainings in the framework of practical grants will be implemented based on both embedded systems with extended capabilities, in relation to systems provided for primary school, as well as mini computers. Additional elements allowing to increase the level of advancement of works compared to primary school will take into account image processing algorithms and communication with the Internet. Minicomputers with the capabilities of a microcontroller constitute a very wide base for running more complex algorithmic operations. Equipped with operating systems from the Linux family, treated as computers, they allow for a full implementation of time-consuming data processing algorithms. Additionally there is a possibility to use network resources. In addition, it is possible to use network resources in the absence of the possibility of implementing algorithmic calculations in the system, and the connectors located on the board can be used to connect sensors or control the robot's motors in a suitable way. The possibility of connecting sensor systems and mini-computer systems gives undeniable possibilities of constructing intelligent information systems, taking into account, among others, elements of artificial intelligence and learning programming in Python or C.
For students, it remains "only" to develop appropriate algorithms for data processing and their implementation. The concept of programmable embedded systems sets is compliant with the PenSource software principles and supported by the Internet community, which will allow for self-education and thus the development of students.
Similarly to the previous age category, the prepared set will contain, among others, in addition to the mentioned programmable systems, a set of sensors and robots.