submitted by Carlos Calderon
Holy Trinity College
Mar del Plata, Argentina
 
  Description
  Have you got a train? Well, we have a LEGO Train, and we used it to practice simple equations. In LEGO/DACTA, the motor has 8 different levels of power. Setpower 0 to 8. The student knows that if h/she puts Setpower 4 or 5, the train works moderately. If the student puts 1,2, or 3, it is slower, and if he/she puts 6,7, or 8, it is faster.
   
  Procedure
 

1. With LEGO students must build a small Train Station from where the train will depart.
   
  2. Then they write a program where time will be the variable.
 

For Example:

 

To train: x

Setpower: 5

On wait: x off

End
   
  3. Finally, we ask the students to make the train five 5 turns.
 

For example:

 

 Train 20 where the motor will move for 2 seconds. (wait 10 is a second)
   
  4. Other excercises could be to change the setpower making the students try different options until they find the correct one.
   
  The final program with 2 variables will be:

To train: x, z

TTO MOTORA

Setpower: z

On wait: x off

End
   
  The students will be writing.
  For example: train 4 40.
 
 

Durotovich Julieta and Lopez Mazzeo Federico are participants of the project.

About the Program  
Carlos Calderon teaches students in Mar del Pata, Argentina. He has about ten years of experience in Robotics working with children from 7-12 years old. In December 2002, he will be opening a private workshop after school called iTOYS. The General Program will include three different levels: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced. They will work with LEGO Mindstorm and LEGO/DACTA
 
Contact
http://www.trinity.esc.edu.ar
calderon@cybertech.com.ar