March 2008

Learning Math and Science Through Robotics at the Ulster BOCES Center for Alternative Education

As the robotics field continues to expand and innovate worldwide, studying these machines has fascinated students in the Ulster BOCES Asperger Program Independent Education (APIE) class at the Center for Alternative Education in Port Ewen. An example of one of the best uses of technology in the classroom, students have been building robots through Lego Mindstorms, a multi-faceted program that includes Computer Assisted Design (CAD) software and real-life easy-to-assemble robot parts. The program has aided students in working co-operatively, a challenge for some of the young adults who have Asperger Syndrome. Asperger Syndrome is a neurobiological disorder in which individuals of normal intelligence and language development show signs of autistic-like behaviors and experience marked deficiencies in social and communication skills.

“Each student first worked on the project individually and then the class worked on the robots together,” explains teacher Karen Bartoletti. “It’s been rewarding for students to see the fruits of their labor.” The program has been especially beneficial to students as it allows them to apply math and science skills in a real-life setting. “The project has allowed students to solve problems, think critically, and learn cooperatively during science and math period.”

“The idea of creating a robot is just so fun,” says a student from the Highland Central School District, who has enjoyed using sonar sensors to control the robot’s movement. “The project has helped me focus on science, which is a difficult subject for me, but using robots has made it interesting.”

Another APIE student from the Pine Bush Central School District, says robot construction is fascinating because it represents something on the cutting edge of technology. “The sheer fact that even as advanced as computers are right now, technology becomes outdated each month is interesting to me.”

For Ms. Bartoletti, it has been rewarding to see her students harness a creative outlet for their skills and impress her with their knowledge. “The robotics project was complicated for me because I didn’t have a background in programming, but the students took to it immediately!”