Introduction to Programming with NAO

  • 6-9 grade
  • Beginner

Course Description:

This course contains 10 lessons.
Students will learn basic programming skills by creating an interactive story for NAO to tell.  Each lesson uncover another layer of the story and introduces a computer science concept. 

The NAO robot is the most widely-used humanoid robot in the world for research and education.  It is an amazing device that can walk, talk, and even pull some impressive dance moves! NAO has two cameras to watch the world and can track, learn, and recognize people and objects as well as speak and listen.

In this course students will develop the skills of a computer scientist and robotics engineer through the development of Computational and Critical Thinking Practices:
Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Persistence and Problem Solving.

The activities use a spiraling curriculum design, in which the content of each activity builds conceptually on the previous lesson and skills are revisited in each lesson while delving deeper each time.

Each Lesson is divided into four main segments:
Observe: This section is about creating motivation and interest in the new topic. The main goal is to help the participants identify the concept the lesson is taught and see "Why should I learn this?" and why the concept that the lesson teaches is important and useful.

Explore: This section is designed to allow students analyze and experiment the new concept they've just learned practice and develop a deep understanding of how it works.

Action: Participants practice the new topic and skill. Of course, make it safe for them to make mistakes, play and experiment with the robots and the programs. The best lessons have more practice than presentation. Allow plenty of time for the students to run their creations on the robots.

Review: Create an activity that asks students to reflect on what they have learned and how and when they will use it.

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Lessons