Syllabus
Syllabus
6th, 7th, 8th
6th, 7th, 8th
Cedartown Middle School Campus
Instructor: Wes Astin
Program: Middle School Robotics
Room: 220
School Telephone Number (770) 749-8850
Voice Mail 1220/ email wastin@polk.k12.ga.us
2022-2023
6-7th Grade
COVID-19 Update:
Social distancing and the application of a mask is highly recommended.
Course Description:
This is an introductory course in robotics. We will be utilizing Lego Mindstorm kits, coding software and various Lego Robotics materials. The mission of this course is to introduce the student to basic programming as well as problem solving strategies. This course will involve students in the development, building and programming of a LEGO Mindstorm robot. Students will work hands-on in teams to design, build, program and document their progress. Topics may include motor control, gear ratios, torque, friction, sensors, timing, program loops, logic gates, decision-making, timing sequences, propulsion systems and binary number systems. Student will also be exposed to multiple lessons and applications related to real world problem solving and employability skills.
Learning Objectives:
How to work and collaborate in groups and teams
How to design robots for specific activities and scenarios
How to use programming software
Utilize Data Collection and Computation
Design Build and Test robots
Problem Solving and Employability Skills
Materials/ Resources Utilized:
LEGO Educational Products, Measuring Equipment, Composition materials, paper, pencil.
Grading Policy:
Labs and Projects = 50%
Assessments= 20%
Final Exam = 10%
Employability Skills: 20%
Class Policies/Rules:
All policies of the Polk School District Board of Education and student handbook will be enforced.
Students are expected to come to class, pay attention and stay on task during class. Student grades will be affected by participation. Attendance will be reflected in participation. Unexcused absences will negatively affect the employability grading. Students should respect to classmates and equipment at all times.
Make-Up Work Policy:
For each grading period, makeup work must be completed no later than two weeks after progress reports are issued. Students may not make up work outside of the grading period window once the time has passed.
Late Assignment Policy:
Students are expected to participate in and complete all assignments on or before the required date issued by the instructor. Due to the lab nature of the class missed assignments may not be made up. Assignments missed due to an excused absence will not be reflected in the students’ grade, however unexcused absences will be reflected in the final grade.
Homework Policy:
Students are required to complete homework and turn in the completed assignments when requested. Failure to turn in homework will result in a ten-point deduction per day late in the grade.
Retest Policy:
All departments in both middle and high schools have re-testing opportunities for students.
Students are allowed to retest one test per quarter, per subject.
Retest can earn full credit.
This retest policy does not include midterms, final exams or benchmark assessments.
Remediation is required from teacher or Directed Studies.
If close to half or more of the class fails, the material is to be retaught and the test given again for full credit.
If a student chooses not to use the retest option for either quarter, the lowest attempted test grade per class will be dropped at the end of the semester, prior to the determination of midterm/final exam exemption. Rigor points cannot be used for consideration for exam exemption.
Retest Policy and dropping of the lowest grade does not apply to Advanced Placement (AP) or Dual Enrollment. Use of either is up to the discretion of the teacher per course.
Final Exam Exemption Policy:
Exam exemption policies must be approved by the superintendent each school year. Any and all exemption policies do not apply to EOCTs, AP exams or other PSD mandated examinations.
For 2020-21, students may exempt midterms/finals if they meet the following criteria:
Student must have an 80 average or above
Students assigned ISS or OSS are not eligible to exempt midterm/final exams
Cedartown Middle School Campus
Instructor: Wes Astin
Program: Technological Systems
Rm: 220
School Telephone Number (770) 749-8850
email wastin@polk.k12.ga.us
2022-23
8th Grade
COVID-19 Update:
Social distancing and the application of a mask is highly recommended.
Course Description:
This is a science and math-based course that utilizes a Lego Educational based curriculum to help students explore and expand their knowledge of science and math concepts. We will be utilizing Lego Educational building and design kits along with other data collection tools to build and experiment with many different scale models. Students will work hands-on in teams to design, build and document their progress. Topics will include simple machines, mechanisms, structures, gears, renewable energy, pneumatics, powered machines, decision-making and critical thinking. Students will also be exposed to multiple lessons and applications related to real world problem solving and employability skills.
Learning Objectives:
How to work and collaborate in groups and teams
How to design machines for specific activities and scenarios
How to utilize data collection tools and computations
Utilize Engineering and Design concepts
Design Build and Test models
Problem Solving and Employability Skills
Materials/ Resources Utilized:
iPad, Chromebook, LEGO Educational Products, Measuring Equipment, Composition materials.
Grading Policy:
Labs and Projects = 50%
Assessments= 20%
Final Exam = 10%
Employability Skills: 20%
Class Policies/Rules:
All policies of the Polk School District Board of Education and student handbook will be enforced.
Students are expected to come to class, pay attention and stay on task during class. Student grades. Attendance will be reflected in participation. Unexcused absences will negatively affect the
employability grading. Students should respect classmates and equipment at all times.
Make-Up work Policy:
For each grading period, makeup work must be completed no later than two weeks after progress reports are issued. Students may not make up work outside of the grading period window once the time has passed.
Late Assignment Policy:
Students are expected to participate in and complete all assignments on or before the required date issued by the instructor. Due to the lab nature of the class missed assignments may not be made up. Assignments missed due to an excused absence will not be reflected in the students’ grade, however unexcused absences will be reflected in the final grade.
Homework Policy:
Students are required to complete homework and turn in the completed assignments when requested. Failure to turn in homework will result in a ten-point deduction per day late in the grade.
Retest Policy:
Any student can retest one test per quarter provided that the student attends tutoring as directed by the teacher or drop their lowest test grade at the end of the semester. This excludes, but not limited to benchmark assessments, final exams, mid-terms, standardized tests (such as EOC Milestones, SLOs, EOPA, AP Exams, etc.), major projects and/or research that required an exorbitant amount of time in and outside the classroom (i.e. research paper). Use of either is up to the discretion of the teacher per course.
Final Exam Exemption Policy:
Exam exemption policies must be approved by the superintendent each school year. Any and all exemption policies do not apply to EOCTs, AP exams or other PSD mandated examinations.
For 2020-21, students may exempt midterms/finals if they meet the following criteria:
· Student must have an 80 average or above
· Students assigned ISS or OSS are not eligible to exempt midterm/final exams.