Robotics

Projectile Motion Exploration

This activity incorporates collaborative, problem-solving, and project-based learning approaches. By utilizing multiple learning approaches, teachers can optimize the educational impact of the activity. Robotics projects are conducive to such an integrated approach because of level of involvement necessary to complete them.

Students will work in teams of two to four, working through a project that involves multi-step problem-solving. This collaborative approach allows students to specialize in their area of expertise while receiving support from their peers. Collaboration has an emergent quality--students of varying abilities can feel successful and integrated into the process when they are part of team. Unlike the discovery process that can take much longer and lead to frustration as students are supposed to come to conclusions independently, the collaborative process stimulates a scaffolding of ideas as students work together to reach a determination. All teams will be faced with the same problem that needs to be solved, but will have the freedom to find their own solutions as they work through the project. Since there are numerous aspects of the project, collaboration complements the project-based learning approach well. This particular project is centered around a math problem. Students will use their knowledge of projectile motion and parabolas to solve the problem and program their robot. The solution can be achieved by analyzing the data produced and doing the mathematics by hand or facilitated by technology by incorporating a spreadsheet application such as Excel with the capability of graphing and creating a best-fit equation. Integrating these three learning approaches creates a supportive environment through which students solve problems to complete their projects.