Our club went pretty well when it was in full swing in the summer of 2005. We used Lego almost exclusively - with the RCX for more complicated tasks, or a SpyBotix and two Manas units for simpler RC robots.
The kids learned basic stuff like building strong structures, mechanical linkages, getting more than one action from a single motor, as well as teamwork and planning.
The format was to do a challenge, then give some theory that would enable them to do the same challenge better, and let them try it again. That way, the theory is relevant.
I also used some flat MDF, spray painted black, with Yellow Hazard taped borders to lay out arenas for RC bots - where the challenges were different - build something for speed, build one for control, build one that can get over the gap, build sumo bots. Black painted MDF with Yellow hazard borders looks like robot wars so they were really thrilled.
We did not participate in FLL, but I did try to get the kids to build a Great Ball Contraption - which was their largest group project.
OrionRobots now owns an NXT too, but is not currently running a club, perhaps I will again later, but for now I have my own kid on the way.
Which from what I understand, may be only a few months away.
Sure, there will still be some on the shelves, traditional console or handheld games, but the PC games market will be very much download centric, and the consoles will rapidly move that way too.
I say give it a year or two, and the shelves may have the stragglers, or boxed stubs with a single URL on a CD but the mainstream will be downloaded.
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Our club went pretty well when it was in full swing in the summer of 2005. We used Lego almost exclusively - with the RCX for more complicated tasks, or a SpyBotix and two Manas units for simpler RC robots.
The kids learned basic stuff like building strong structures, mechanical linkages, getting more than one action from a single motor, as well as teamwork and planning.
The format was to do a challenge, then give some theory that would enable them to do the same challenge better, and let them try it again. That way, the theory is relevant.
I also used some flat MDF, spray painted black, with Yellow Hazard taped borders to lay out arenas for RC bots - where the challenges were different - build something for speed, build one for control, build one that can get over the gap, build sumo bots. Black painted MDF with Yellow hazard borders looks like robot wars so they were really thrilled.
We did not participate in FLL, but I did try to get the kids to build a Great Ball Contraption - which was their largest group project.
OrionRobots now owns an NXT too, but is not currently running a club, perhaps I will again later, but for now I have my own kid on the way.
Which from what I understand, may be only a few months away. Sure, there will still be some on the shelves, traditional console or handheld games, but the PC games market will be very much download centric, and the consoles will rapidly move that way too. I say give it a year or two, and the shelves may have the stragglers, or boxed stubs with a single URL on a CD but the mainstream will be downloaded.