A Road Map for Teaching Introductory Programming Using LEGO Mindstorms Robots

Lawhead, Pamela B., Bland, Constance G., Barnes, David J., Duncan, Michaele E., Goldweber, Michael, Hollingsworth, Ralph G., Schep, Madeleine (2003) A Road Map for Teaching Introductory Programming Using LEGO Mindstorms Robots. ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, 35 (2). pp. 191-201. ISSN 0097-8418. (doi:10.1145/782941.783002) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:13968)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL: http://www.cs.kent.ac.uk/pubs/2003/1666

Abstract

In this paper, we describe a recent trend in the introductory computer science curriculum which advocates conceptualizing computation primarily as coordinated concurrent activities. Consistent with this philosophy is the focus on the event-driven model of computation. While one can utilize these approaches with any thread and/or event supporting object-oriented language (e.g. Java) in a desktop programming environment, they become particularly worthwhile when used in conjunction with physical robots. This paper argues the case for the benefits of this approach and provides sample exercises that illustrate the use of this pedagogy using LEGO Mindstorms RCX bricks programmed in Java for use in introductory programming.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1145/782941.783002
Uncontrolled keywords:	robotics CS1 CS2 object-oriented Java 2nd tier students computing and interaction computer controlled models
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming,
Divisions:	Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Computing
Depositing User:	David Barnes
Date Deposited:	24 Nov 2008 18:01 UTC
Last Modified:	05 Nov 2024 09:47 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/13968 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Barnes, David J..

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6073-0951
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