The Institute For Personal Robots In Education (IPRE)The Institute For Personal Robots In Education (IPRE)
Tucker BalchAssociate ProfessorCollege of Computing at Georgia Tech
Stewart TansleyProgram ManagerMicrosoft Research
Tucker BalchAssociate ProfessorCollege of Computing at Georgia Tech
Stewart TansleyProgram ManagerMicrosoft Research
ContentsContents
Attraction and retention in CS
Microsoft’s motivation and role
A program for addressing the challenge
The Institute for Personal Robots in Education
Background -- Context for CS & Threads
Program overview
The robots
Discussion
Attraction and retention in CS
Microsoft’s motivation and role
A program for addressing the challenge
The Institute for Personal Robots in Education
Background -- Context for CS & Threads
Program overview
The robots
Discussion
Computer Science In DeclineComputer Science Listed As Probable Major Among Incoming FreshmanComputer Science In DeclineComputer Science Listed As Probable Major Among Incoming Freshman
Source: HERI at UCLA
Microsoft Program VisionMicrosoft Program Vision
Partner with academia to bring measurable gains inComputer Science enrollment & retention
through the deployment of compellingrobotics-based technologies
in CS1/CS2 curriculum
Institute ConceptInstitute Concept
Concerted, focused applied research effort
Leverage best contemporary technologies and approaches
Target CS1/CS2 specifically
3-year program, $1M from Microsoft
Use this to establish a center of excellence in robotics-based education
Mutually select a partner from a pre-qualified invited list of potential hosts, using an augmented form of MSR’s proven Request For Proposals program
Concerted, focused applied research effort
Leverage best contemporary technologies and approaches
Target CS1/CS2 specifically
3-year program, $1M from Microsoft
Use this to establish a center of excellence in robotics-based education
Mutually select a partner from a pre-qualified invited list of potential hosts, using an augmented form of MSR’s proven Request For Proposals program
The Institute For Personal Robots In Education (IPRE)
Hosted at theCollege of Computing at Georgia Tech,with Bryn Mawr College
The Institute For Personal Robots In Education (IPRE)
Hosted at theCollege of Computing at Georgia Tech,with Bryn Mawr College
The InstituteThe Institute
The Institute for Personal Robots in Education
July 12 announcement
Hosted at Georgia Tech with Bryn Mawr College
$1M over 3 years, $1M matching funds
Goal:To develop a proven, practical, reliable, cost-effective robot technology platform for teaching CS, targeted at CS1/CS2
The Institute for Personal Robots in Education
July 12 announcement
Hosted at Georgia Tech with Bryn Mawr College
$1M over 3 years, $1M matching funds
Goal:To develop a proven, practical, reliable, cost-effective robot technology platform for teaching CS, targeted at CS1/CS2
The InstituteThe Institute
Tucker Balch, DirectorDoug Blank, SoftwareMark Guzdial, CurriculaDeepak Kumar, Curricula
Tucker Balch, DirectorDoug Blank, SoftwareMark Guzdial, CurriculaDeepak Kumar, Curricula
Background: Teaching CS At GTBackground: Teaching CS At GT
As of 1999: All GT students must take CS-1
Many take CS-1 and CS-2
3800 students per year
Problems:28% WDF rate (50% for non-CS majors)
Solution: Context & ChoiceComputational Media (Guzdial)
Engineering/Matlab (Smith)
As of 1999: All GT students must take CS-1
Many take CS-1 and CS-2
3800 students per year
Problems:28% WDF rate (50% for non-CS majors)
Solution: Context & ChoiceComputational Media (Guzdial)
Engineering/Matlab (Smith)
Impact Of ContextImpact Of Context
WDF rate 16% for non-majors
1 year later: 20% of non-major students report programming outside class
Students who move to CS major perform as well as “regular” CS students
WDF rate 16% for non-majors
1 year later: 20% of non-major students report programming outside class
Students who move to CS major perform as well as “regular” CS students
New: Threads CS CurriculumNew: Threads CS Curriculum
Computing & Computational ModelingComputing & EmbodimentComputing & FoundationsComputing & Information InternetworksComputing & IntelligenceComputing & MediaComputing & PeopleComputing & Platforms
Computing & Computational ModelingComputing & EmbodimentComputing & FoundationsComputing & Information InternetworksComputing & IntelligenceComputing & MediaComputing & PeopleComputing & Platforms
New: New:
New joint Computing and Engineering research center
~30 faculty, +2 / year
Henrik Christensen, Director
Endowed chair: KUKA Robotics
Robotics PhD program 2007
New joint Computing and Engineering research center
~30 faculty, +2 / year
Henrik Christensen, Director
Endowed chair: KUKA Robotics
Robotics PhD program 2007
Robots For CS EducationRobots For CS Education
Our proposal is not to create a set of introductory robotics courses . . .
but to create a set of introductory computer science courses using robots that reveal the fundamental concepts of computer science
Our proposal is not to create a set of introductory robotics courses . . .
but to create a set of introductory computer science courses using robots that reveal the fundamental concepts of computer science
Elements Of Our PlanElements Of Our Plan
Novel robots for the student’s desktop
Curricula: Robotics context for CS1 and CS2
Pyro/Myro: educational robotics
software platform
Evaluation using provenassessment instruments
Broad dissemination
Communicating the message
Novel robots for the student’s desktop
Curricula: Robotics context for CS1 and CS2
Pyro/Myro: educational robotics
software platform
Evaluation using provenassessment instruments
Broad dissemination
Communicating the message
Element: RobotsElement: Robots
Recall the PC.
Meet the PR.
Every student with her own robot.
Design goals:Inexpensive
Reliable
“Brainless”
Recall the PC.
Meet the PR.
Every student with her own robot.
Design goals:Inexpensive
Reliable
“Brainless”
Element: CurriculaElement: Curricula
“Use robots to reveal the fundamental issues in
computer science”
This is aresearch problem
We have roadmap pioneered byMark Guzdial
“Use robots to reveal the fundamental issues in
computer science”
This is aresearch problem
We have roadmap pioneered byMark Guzdial
Element: CS Teaching LaboratoriesElement: CS Teaching Laboratories
Four diverse universities:Georgia Institute of Technology;
Bryn Mawr College;
Georgia State University;
The University of Georgia
Four diverse universities:Georgia Institute of Technology;
Bryn Mawr College;
Georgia State University;
The University of Georgia
Element: SoftwareElement: Software
The Microsoft Robotics SDK.
Visual Studio
Pyro/Myro: the leading educational robotics software platform
The Microsoft Robotics SDK.
Visual Studio
Pyro/Myro: the leading educational robotics software platform
Element: EvaluationElement: Evaluation
Substantial experience with media-based CS education
Test deployments at 4 universities
Proven assessment instruments
Substantial experience with media-based CS education
Test deployments at 4 universities
Proven assessment instruments
Element: DisseminationElement: Dissemination
Initial deployment at 4partner universities
Two workshops for broader audience
Textbooks
Initial deployment at 4partner universities
Two workshops for broader audience
Textbooks
Challenges/TradeoffsChallenges/Tradeoffs
High cost:Insurmountable obstacle forsome schools
Come to the lab, check outa robot….
Doesn’t scale
Compile, download and run:Increases cost
Decreases understandability
Build the robot:Requires support infrastructure
Reduces reliability
Intimidates some people
High cost:Insurmountable obstacle forsome schools
Come to the lab, check outa robot….
Doesn’t scale
Compile, download and run:Increases cost
Decreases understandability
Build the robot:Requires support infrastructure
Reduces reliability
Intimidates some people
Our ApproachOur Approach
Low cost
Reliable:Simple hardware;
Microsoft Robotics SDK.
Easy:“Brainless;”
Leverages the Microsoft desktop
Low cost
Reliable:Simple hardware;
Microsoft Robotics SDK.
Easy:“Brainless;”
Leverages the Microsoft desktop
CS1 RobotCS1 Robot
Bluetooth + PIC
2 x wheels & motors
1 x actuator
Sensors
Buttons, LEDs
Speaker
Assembly, packaging
Bluetooth + PIC
2 x wheels & motors
1 x actuator
Sensors
Buttons, LEDs
Speaker
Assembly, packaging
$30--
$20--
$10--
$15--
$5--
$5--
$10--
Example LessonExample Lesson
A program is a sequence of stepsto execute:
Forward(10)
Right(90)
Forward(10)
Right(90)
Forward(10)
Right(90)
Forward(10)
Right(90)
A program is a sequence of stepsto execute:
Forward(10)
Right(90)
Forward(10)
Right(90)
Forward(10)
Right(90)
Forward(10)
Right(90)
Example LessonExample Lesson
Iteration:For(I=1; I<=4; I++)
Forward(10)
Right(90)
Iteration:For(I=1; I<=4; I++)
Forward(10)
Right(90)
© 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation.Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft,and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation.MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.
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