The mission of the students will be to construct robots that will assemble a simulated Mars colony using LEGO robotics kits. Through use of video conferencing and the web the students will collaborate on the designs of these robots and program them so that they can operate remotely. Some of the robots will be given robotics commands from a remote site. For instance, they robots at I.U. could be controlled at Columbus North and vise versa. We hope to see this project documented in the I.U. basketball half time show this year.
Updates are available upon request.
This once again is a collaboration between teachers Tim Soliday and Fred Walden with the aid of Myrna Fields. This project focuses primarily on water quality and environmental issues. Distance learning connections include the Ocean Institute in California, Mote Marine Research Laboratory in Sarasota Florida, The Wilds Environmental Education in Ohio, the Aquatic Research Institute from their site in East Chicago at the water treatment plant, and with an author in Oregon who helped on the Exxon Valdez clean up years ago. Tim and Fred, who had previously used Owen Valley Middle School, are now going to videoconference from McCormick's Creek Elementary. The last three Testing the Waters distance learning connections will be held at the newly constructed McCormick's Creek Elementary who has become operational as of September 29 th .