LMICSE: Lego Mindstorms in Computer Science Education

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Primary Project Workshop IV

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June 14 - 17, 2005 at Alma College

The workshop host was Myles McNally (Alma College) and it was co-led by Pamela Lawhead (University of Mississippi). There is a photo album of our activites during the workshop here.

Workshop Schedule

This is the final schedule. Links to the available presentation materials are embedded in the schedule.

Monday Night (arrival)

Time
Activity
Location
Presenter
3:00 -
Check-in to the Comfort Inn
Comfort Inn
-
7:00 - 9:00
Dinner (on your own)
-
-

Tuesday (basics)

Time
Activity
Location
Presenter
8:00 - 8:30
Continental Breakfast
Swanson Lobby
-
8:30 - 9:00
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Swanson 110
All
9:00 - 10:10
Introduction to Mindstorms
Swanson 110
McNally
10:10 - 10:30
Break
Swanson Lobby
-
10:30 - 12:00
Building Lego Robots
Swanson 110
McNally
12:00 - 1:00
Lunch
Fireside Lounge
-
1:00 - 2:40
Programming Mindstorms using Java
Swanson 110
Lawhead
2:40 - 3:00
Break
Swanson Lobby
-
3:00 - 4:30
Hands-on Session - Java Programming (1 and 2)
Swanson 110
All
4:30 - 5:30
Free Time / Lab Time
-
-
5:30 - 7:00
Dinner
Heather Room
-

Wednesday (first year)

Time
Activity
Location
Presenter
8:00 - 8:30
Continental Breakfast
Swanson Lobby
-
8:30 - 10:10
Using Mindstorms in CS1 - The Turtle Labs
Swanson 110
McNally
10:10 - 10:30
Break
Swanson Lobby
-
10:30 - 12:00
Hands-on Session - Turtle Labs
The HS Robotics Challenge
Swanson 110
All
12:00 - 1:00
Lunch
Fireside Lounge
-
1:00 - 2:40
NQC: A CS 0 Option
Swanson 110
McNally
2:40 - 3:00
Break
Swanson Lobby
-
3:00 - 4:30
RCX Assembler
Swanson 110
Paris
4:30 - 5:30
Free Time / Lab Time
-
-
5:30 - 7:00
Dinner
Heather Room
-

Thursday (adv. topics and lab design)

Time
Activity
Location
Presenter
8:00 - 8:30
Continental Breakfast
Swanson Lobby
-
8:30 - 10:10
Robotics and CS2
Swanson 110
McNally
10:10 - 10:30
Break
Swanson Lobby
-
10:30 - 12:00
Sonar and Localization
Swanson 110
McNally
12:00 - 1:00
Lunch
Fireside Lounge
-
1:00 - 2:40
Designing Labs (Discussion)
Swanson 110
Lawhead
2:40 - 3:00
Break
Swanson Lobby
-
3:00 - 4:30

Lab Creation (Small Groups)
    Etch-a-Sketch
    SeeSaw
    MorseCode
    RiboRobot
    Crash
    TreeDiscovery

Swanson 110
Lawhead
4:30 - 5:30
Free Time / Lab Time
-
-
5:30 - 7:00
Dinner
Heather Room
-

Friday (alternatives)

Time
Activity
Location
Presenter
8:00 - 8:30
Continental Breakfast
Swanson Lobby
-
8:30 - 10:10
Alternative Programming Languages
Swanson 110
McNally
10:10 - 10:30
Break
Swanson Lobby
-
10:30 - 12:00
Lab Evaluation (Small Groups), Wrap up, Workshop Evaluation
Swanson 110
Lawhead
12:00 - 1:00
Boxed Lunch, Depart
Swanson Lobby
-

Maps and Directions

Alma College is easy to get to (for a college in almost the exact midpoint of the lower peninsula of Michigan!).

Flying: For those flying in, the airport of choice is Capital City (in Lansing). It is about 50 miles to the College from the airport. Please try to arrive in the later afternoon. We will provide transportation between the airport and Alma.

Driving: Eventually, almost everyone will want to be traveling north on US 127. Exit on the second Alma exit for the Comfort Inn, which is to the west of the exit. Exit the first Alma exit for the College. See the College's driving directions here.

Workshop Location: The workshop will be held in the Swanson Academic Center, room 110. A campus map is here - Swanson is building 24. To get to the workshop location from the hotel:

  • Exit the hotel parking lot turning left.
  • Turn right at the first traffic light (very close to the hotel) on Algier Rd.
  • Proceed until the third traffic light, and turn right (Superior St., about 2 miles).
  • Alma College is immediately on the right, park in the first or second (preferred) parking lot.