Teaching introduction to robotics: Using a blend of problem- and project-based learning approaches

In this paper the author describes his experience in the delivery of a series of workshops providing an introduction to robotics. The workshops were attended by a group of high school students with an interest in the area who did not have previous knowledge of the elements that were presented. These elements included basics of the C/C++ language, including variables, data types, operators, decision/iteration statements and functions, components such as LEDs and sensors, hardware components such as DC motors, and the Arduino environment. The goal was to use the knowledge and skills acquired during the workshops in building robots for a sumo-robot competition held at a college level. Working in teams, the students used these skills to build robots which participated successfully in the competition. The instructional method used was a blend of the problem-based learning approach and the project-based learning approach. While the workshops were organized with the sumo-robot competition in mind, the material, the software/hardware platform, the topics organization, and the methodology followed could be used in a formal course on introduction to robotics with little or no changes.