Remote Robots?!
Steal this Idea!
As an educator, I'm always on the lookout for innovative and engaging tools that can enhance student learning. In my search, I came across three products that stood out as examples of how technology can be used to create immersive learning experiences that capture students' attention and promote collaboration and problem-solving. These products are Isotopium Chernobyl, Kai's Clan, and VEXcode VR.
Inspired by the strengths of these existing products, I came up with an idea for a new educational product that combines elements of each and adds a competitive element. The product would use real robots and a camera system to enable remote control and programming, allowing students to work together to complete tasks and compete against each other. By combining the immersive experiences of Isotopium Chernobyl, the collaborative coding of Kai's Clan, and the virtual robotics of VEXcode VR, our product aims to create an innovative and engaging tool that can motivate students and help them develop important skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking. I am not going to produce this product myself, but I would love to use it. So, if anyone reading this has the means and or determiniation to make it a reality, you'll have my money for sure!
In this article, I will discuss each of these existing products in more detail, explain my idea for a new educational product, and explore the potential impact it could have on education and learners.
Isotopium Chernobyl
Isotopium Chernobyl is a game that combines real robots and a scale model of the Chernobyl disaster site to create an immersive gaming experience. Players drive tanks through the model, picking up energy items to survive. The twist is that the tanks are real robots, and the Chernobyl model is a scale replica housed in a warehouse somewhere in Ukraine.
While the game was designed for entertainment, its concept could easily be adapted for educational purposes. Imagine a classroom where students could control real robots and navigate them through a scale model of a city to simulate disaster response. They could collect data and use programming to improve their responses in a real-world emergency.
By integrating the immersive experience of Isotopium Chernobyl into our new product, we hope to create a tool that provides a unique perspective on real-world problem-solving scenarios and promotes critical thinking skills.
Kai's Clan
Kai's Clan is a New Zealand-based company that has developed a unique product for collaborative coding and remote control of robots. Their product includes pre-built robots and a mat with fiducials (QR code-like symbols) that allow a smartphone to detect the robots' position and movement. The system is designed for students to code collaboratively and control real robots remotely.
The potential for collaboration and teamwork is a key strength of Kai's Clan. Students can work together to complete tasks, sharing ideas and learning from each other. The system is also designed for coding challenges, which can further enhance critical thinking skills.
By incorporating the collaborative coding and remote control capabilities of Kai's Clan into our new product, we hope to create a tool that encourages teamwork and collaboration, while also promoting coding and robotics skills. Our product would provide students with a unique opportunity to program and control real robots, enabling them to gain hands-on experience with robotics and coding.
VEXcode VR
VEXcode VR is a virtual robotics system that enables students to code and interact with virtual robots in immersive Playgrounds. One of the most exciting things about VEXcode VR is that students can code anytime, anywhere using a web-based platform with no student accounts or installations required.
VEXcode VR not only provides an engaging platform for students, but also provides a way for teachers to assess their students' understanding of coding concepts. Students can download and share their projects, giving teachers a better insight into their students' learning progress.
The flexibility and accessibility of VEXcode VR is a key strength. The system is designed to be used by beginners and experienced coders alike, with curricular resources available to meet students' needs at all levels.
By incorporating the virtual robotics capabilities of VEXcode VR into our new product, we hope to create a tool that allows students to gain experience with virtual and real-world robotics. The system would enable students to practice coding and controlling robots in a virtual environment before transitioning to the real world. This would provide a unique and engaging learning experience that can help promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and robotics skills.
My idea
My idea for a new educational product combines the key elements of Isotopium Chernobyl, Kai's Clan, and VEXcode VR to create an innovative and engaging tool for learning. The product is designed for middle school, high school, and college students, and incorporates a competitive element to motivate students and promote teamwork.
The product would consist of a VEX robotics competition field and a camera system mounted above it looking down. Two to four robots (depending on the size of the field) would be able to be logged into remotely and then programmed to complete a task. These robots would also broadcast their video feed back to the students so I could enter real-time input to adjust the robots' behavior. This would allow students to preprogram functions that they will use during the live match. The online user interface could be almost exactly like (if not an upgrade to the actual product) VEXcode VR.
My product differs from existing educational products in that it combines real and virtual robotics, remote control and programming, and a competitive element. The product is designed to be a new category for the VEX Robotics competition, encouraging students to work together to program and control real robots to complete tasks in real time. The competitive element would motivate students to strive for better performance and help them develop important skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
While there are potential challenges to implementing my product, including the need for reliable technology and field setup, the potential benefits are significant. My product would provide a unique and engaging learning experience that promotes teamwork, coding, and robotics skills. By using real robots and real-world scenarios, students would gain valuable hands-on experience that can prepare them for real-world problem-solving scenarios.
Overall, my idea for a new educational product aims to provide an innovative and engaging tool for learning that can motivate students and help them develop important skills.
Conclusion
Innovation in education is key to engaging and motivating students to learn. The three products discussed in this article - Isotopium Chernobyl, Kai's Clan, and VEXcode VR - demonstrate how technology can be used to create immersive and engaging learning experiences that promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.
My idea for a new educational product builds on the strengths of these products and adds a competitive element to motivate students and promote teamwork. By combining real and virtual robotics, remote control and programming, and a competitive element, my product aims to provide a unique and engaging tool for learning that can prepare students for real-world problem-solving scenarios.
While there are potential challenges to implementing this product, the potential benefits are significant. The product would provide a hands-on learning experience that promotes teamwork, coding, and robotics skills, preparing students for future careers in STEM fields.
In conclusion, the possibilities for innovation in education are endless. By exploring and combining existing products and technologies, we can create new and exciting tools for learning that inspire and engage students.