Authors:
Jenny Liu
1
;
Wendy Feenstra
2
;
Alvar Saenz Otero
1
and
Kathleen Magrane
3
Affiliations:
1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States
;
2
Aurora Flight Sciences, United States
;
3
Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership, United States
Keyword(s):
Middle School, Programming, Competition, Robotics, International Space Station, SPHERES, NASA.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Computer-Supported Education
;
e-Learning
;
Game-Based and Simulation-Based Learning
;
Learning/Teaching Methodologies and Assessment
Abstract:
This position paper discusses the use of the Zero Robotics Summer Program competition as a tool to teach programing to students in middle school (ages 11-14). The benefits of teaching programing at that age are discussed, including grasping the student attention early on and providing a useful skill. Zero Robotics is a free programming competition where students program microsatellites to compete with other student-programmed satellites in a virtual game using an online simulation. The finalists see their code compete on the SPHERES satellites aboard the International Space Station, during a final competition transmitted live. The game and curriculum teaches students physics, mathematics, and programming concepts. This position paper argues that it is possible to engage students in programing by providing the right incentive (space) through a competitive environment where teachers have a curriculum to back them up, without becoming a standard classroom exercise.