Instructions
- Discuss how important it is to understand other people’s struggles in order to identify real-world problems.
- What types of problems affect us ALL in some way, even if it does not appear so directly (e.g., litter, healthy food options)?
- Use examples from historical or current examples (e.g., civil rights movements, wildlife conservation).
- Have students explore different types of real-world problems.
- Have them research current news events, which may inspire their thinking in regard to real-world problems
- Have them watch Robotic Hands Solving Problems and discuss how robotics can improve life in the real-world.
- Ask the class, “What kinds of problems affect the world around us?”
- Select student volunteers to call out a few example problems (e.g., physical disabilities, homelessness, obesity, natural disasters, lack of natural resources).
- Work with the class to brainstorm similar real-world problems. List the problems on the whiteboard or poster paper.
- Try to avoid smaller personal problems and urge students to consider more universal problems that stem from larger social or emotional injustices.
- Do not judge ideas as good or bad at this time.
- Once you've gotten all ideas written down, read them aloud.
- Discuss possible accessories that students could design for Dash to help solve some of the identified problems.
- Could Dash use a handle to help people with disabilities across the street?
- Could Dash deliver snacks and food to people who are hungry?
- Discuss how students could program Dash to demonstrate the accessory.
- Could you use a function to have Dash raise the handle for people to grab?
- Could you use a variable so that Dash knows when to go back and get more snacks?