Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Robotics: From Zero to Hero in Six Weeks

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
ICT Education (SACLA 2018)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 963))

  • 613 Accesses

Abstract

In the Information Technology course offered at the North-West University, students do two subject modules during their second year on Information Systems Development. During their third year the course scaffolds on this knowledge base by extending exposure to novel technologies including robotics, cyber security, etc. The focus of this paper is on the design and evaluation of the robotics project offered over a six-week period. After the project a focus group interview with several students provided feedback regarding their experience.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    http://www.arduino.cc/.

  2. 2.

    https://massimobanzi.com/.

References

  1. Basch, C.E.: Focus group interview: an underutilized research technique for improving theory and practice in health education. Health Educ. Q. 14(4), 411–448 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Berry, C.A., Remy, S.L., Rogers, T.E.: Robotics for all ages: a standard robotics curriculum for K-16. IEEE Robot. Autom. Mag. 23(2), 40–46 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Calder, B.J.: Focus groups and the nature of qualitative marketing research. J. Mark. Res. 14(3), 353–364 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cappelleri, D.J., Vitoroulis, N.: The robotic decathlon: project-based learning labs and curriculum design for an introductory robotics course. IEEE Trans. Educ. 56(1), 73–81 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Carey, M.A.: The group effect in focus groups: planning, implementing, and interpreting focus group research. In: Critical Issues in Qualitative Research Methods, vol. 225, pp. 225–240 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Fern, E.F.: The use of focus groups for idea generation: the effects of group size, acquaintanceship, and moderator on response quantity and quality. J. Mark. Res. 19(1), 1–13 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Fernandes, S.R.G.: Preparing graduates for professional practice: findings from a case study of Project-based Learning (PBL). Procedia Soc. Behav. Sci. 139, 219–226 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Galadima, A.A.: Arduino as a learning tool. In: Proceedings of 11th IEEE International Conference on Electronics, Computer and Computation, ICECCO 2014 , pp. 1–4 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gibb, A.M.: New media art, design, and the Arduino microcontroller: a malleable tool. M. thesis, Pratt Institute (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hacker, L.: Robotics in education: ROBOLAB and robotic technology as tools for learning science and engineering. Project report, Department of Child Development, Tufts University (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Jamieson, P., Herdtner, J.: More missing the Boat: Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and small prototyping boards and engineering education needs them. In: Proceedings of IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE 2015, pp. 1–6 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Krueger, R.A., Casey, M.A.: Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research, 5th edn. SAGE, Thousand Oaks (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Lakhani, K.R., von Hippel, E.: How open source software works: free user-to-user assistance. Res. Policy 32(6), 923–943 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Laurent, A.M.S.: Understanding Open Source and Free Software Licensing: Guide to Navigating Licensing Issues in Existing and New Software. O’Reilly, Springfield (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Malec, J.: Some thoughts on robotics for education. In: Proceedings of AAAI Spring Symposium on Robotics and Education (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Mataric, M.J.: Robotics education for all ages. In: Proceedings of AAAI Spring Symposium on Accessible, Hands-on AI and Robotics Education (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  17. McLafferty, I.: Focus group interviews as a data collecting strategy. J. Adv. Nurs. 48(2), 187–194 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Millward, L.J.: Focus groups. Res. Method Psychol. 2, 274–292 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Noble, J.: Programming Interactivity: A Designer’s Guide to Processing, Arduino, and OpenFrameworks. O’Reilly, Springfield (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Nourbakhsh, I.R., et al.: The robotic autonomy mobile robotics course: robot design, curriculum design and educational assessment. Auton. Robots 18(1), 103–127 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Nyamathi, A., Shuler, P.: Focus group interview: a research technique for informed nursing practice. Journ. Adv. Nurs. 15(11), 1281–1288 (1990)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Perrenet, J.C., Bouhuijs, P.A.J., Smits, J.G.M.M.: The suitability of problem-based learning for engineering education: theory and practice. Teach. High. Educ. 5(3), 345–358 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Reas, C., Fry, B.: Processing: A Programming Handbook for Visual Designers and Artists. MIT Press, Cambridge (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Stewart, D.W., Shamdasani, P.N., Rook, D.W.: Focus Groups: Theory and Practice. SAGE, Thousand Oaks (1990)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computer Science and Information Systems, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa

    Romeo Botes & Imelda Smit

Authors
  1. Romeo Botes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Imelda Smit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Romeo Botes .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information Systems, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Salah Kabanda

  2. Computer Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa

    Hussein Suleman

  3. University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Stefan Gruner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Botes, R., Smit, I. (2019). Robotics: From Zero to Hero in Six Weeks. In: Kabanda, S., Suleman, H., Gruner, S. (eds) ICT Education. SACLA 2018. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 963. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05813-5_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05813-5_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-05812-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-05813-5

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation