TEACHING TEACHERS: COULD I DESIGN AND BUILD A TINY SMART ROBOT?

Abstract

This paper describes a sample project that involves the construction and testing of a small robot. The projecthas been developed in the form of a workshop for both students and the teachers. The objectives of the workshop were to (i) attract new students to the electrical and computer engineering programs by exciting their imagination and fostering their innate curiosity, (ii) provide students with the background to build and test mechatronics devices, (iii) give students practical experience with sensors, electronics, soldering, mechanical construction, and test equipment, (iv) teach students how to work in small groups, and disseminate the experience to other students, as well as their teachers and parents. This workshop has been delivered directly to high-school students at both the Science and Engineering Symposium for the Peguis First Nation in Manitoba, and to grade 9 to 11 students at the Space Adventure Camp at the University of Manitoba. The events were developed to encourage senior highschool students to consider science, engineering and technology at the university and college levels.