Robotics as a Unifying Theme for Computing Curriculum 2001

Villanova University, Villanova PA

Investigators

Abstract

Computer Science (31) This project demonstrates that robotics (in particular, the LEGO Mindstorms platform) can be a cost-effective and widely-applicable tool for teaching a significant proportion of the ACM/IEEE Computing Curriculum 2001 (CC2001) Body of Knowledge. We are developing an extensible set of 30-40 assignments and laboratory exercises that use LEGO Mindstorms robot kits to motivate and support active student learning across applicable knowledge areas of the CC2001. Examples of such knowledge areas include concurrency in Operating Systems, distributed systems in Networking, and agent design in Artificial Intelligence. Secondly we create new software tools and adapt existing freeware packages available in the Mindstorms user community for our more advanced purposes.