Shepp EdTech - Technology Education Blog

It never ceases to amaze me how young people find solutions to the FLL challenges. Here is a post, FLL - A “Perfecter” Score?, on the NXTStep Blog.

I’ve posted the video below:

Here is the Stringbot that was built and programmed from James Kelly’s book, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: The Mayan Adventure ().

How about using the NXT to launch a paper plane. It looks like a plane flying off an aircraft carrier.

For more details head on over the to the nxtasy.org blog.

NXT Step blog posted links to a fascinating story and video about Segway’s (Dean Kamen’s company) efforts to create a robotic arm for disabled people.

Dean Kamen’s ‘Luke Skywalker’ bionic arm

Here is the link to the video report about it on IEEE Spectrum Online:

Here is an idea for a design challenge using NXT robots:

Some people will build a NXT robot for any purpose. Here is a couple for the bathroom:

Why not a FlushBot:

There are a couple of new NXT blogs that look like they are worth a look:

- NXT Central
- TeamNXT

Enjoy!

Norm and I held an in-service on NXT robotics today. I mentioned several resources and I wanted to post some further information.

I mentioned the following web sites:

• The NXT STEP - LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Blog
• nxtprograms.com

You will find information about the book, Lego Mindstorms Nxt: The Mayan Adventure by James Floyd Kelly on The NXT STEP - LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Blog.

There will be an opportunity on February 8th, for teachers in the Eastern School District to attend a training session about using the NXT LEGO MINDSTORMS kit in the classroom. Here is the info:

Title: Introduction to LEGO NXT robotics
Date: Friday, February 8, 2008
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Location: St. Francis School - Tech Ed computer lab
Trainers: Thomas Sheppard and Norm Littlejohn

This session is designed as an introduction to using the NXT MINDSTORMS robotics kit for use in the junior and senior high technology programs (The new kit was introduced in 2006 and is replacing the RCX-based MINDSTORMS robotics kit).

Topics will include the basics of building and programming an NXT robot using sensors and attachments. The priority will be on integrating robotics into the curriculum to accomplish course outcomes.

Here are the Final Standings: