UPCOMING CLASSES
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free, and you'll receive information on classes before the general
public.)
To register for classes: first email me and I will send you the
registration form and payment instructions. Due to limited class
sizes and long waiting lists, I require advanced payment in order
to reserve your spot. Refunds are offered at the discretion of the
instructor.
I primarily communicate via email. Please check your email the
morning of your class for any last minute details, weather delays
or cancellations.
The Engineers of Tomorrow's LEGO Robotics classes are drop-off
programs. We begin and end promptly. All equipment is provided;
please remind younger students, in particular, that they do not get
to keep the robots or projects they build. I use a mixture of
structured lessons and open-ended design challenges that reinforce
and build skills. The programs work best for children who are
interested in engaging with other children while using LEGO
robotics kits to learn fundamental skills in engineering and
technology. Students will be working in pairs, or sometimes in
groups of 3 or 4 for part of a session, on LEGO robotics projects.
The programs are a lot of hands-on and educational fun; many
children prefer to be left alone to build from their
imaginations-if your child is one of them, consider registering for
the kinetic art LEGO program in August rather than the other
programs. That session includes fewer structured lessons and the
students are welcome to work on a creative project individually,
rather than in pairs or groups.
Finally, while I'm no expert on the topic, I have years of hands-on
experience with people on the Autism Spectrum, including those who
are profoundly gifted. Many aspie kids, in particular, have
robotics as one of their obsessions. To help the AS kids get the
most out of a class, I make an effort to communicate the agenda
clearly and to stick to that agenda with no surprises. That said, a
robotics laboratory can be a loud and busy place--a recipe for
sensory meltdown. (Kids are welcome to wear ball caps and cover
their ears if they need to in my classes.) If your child falls on
the spectrum, or has other disabilities, hidden or not, please
contact me so we can talk before you register. I will ask you to
identify your child's sensory issues and "early warning signs" and
try to get an idea of how I can best help your child succeed.
Sometimes, I will recommend you attend a class at one location
rather than another (the light and acoustics vary from site to
site) or encourage you to send your child with an aid or parent for
their first class.
Upcoming
Classes
LEGO
Robotics for 7-9 year olds
June 18, 19, 20, 2008 10 AM - 12 Noon
Fee: $85.
Class is limited to 12 students.
Instructor: Mary Johnson
Explore the exciting and challenging world of LEGO Robotics in this
3-day session. Students will work in pairs, building a robot from
plans and completing programming exercises to give them an overview
of good robot design and the programming language Robolab.
Once the group has finished the introductory explorations, they
will build and program a robot of their own design for a FIRST LEGO
League-type game field. This class is appropriate for beginning
students as well as those with previous knowledge of LEGO Robotics
and Robolab.
LEGO
Robotics for 10-14 year olds
June 30, July 1, July 2, 2008, 9 AM - 12 Noon
Fee: $125.
Class is limited to 12 students
Instructor: Mary Johnson
Explore the exciting and challenging world of LEGO Robotics in this
3-day session. Students will work in pairs, building a robot from
plans and completing programming exercises to give them an overview
of good robot design and the programming language Robolab.
Once the group has finished the introductory explorations, they
will build and program a robot of their own design to complete
challenges on a FIRST LEGO League-style game field. This class is
appropriate for beginning students as well as those with previous
knowledge of LEGO Robotics and Robolab.
ADVANCED
LEGO Robotics for ages 9-14
Improving FIRST LEGO League Skills
August 6, 7, 8, 2008, 9 AM - 12 Noon
Fee: $125
Class is limited to 16 students
Instructor: Dr. Matthew Stein & Mary Johnson
This class is designed for students who are currently, or who plan
to, participate on a FIRST LEGO League team. Participants
must have at least one year of LEGO robotics experience, either on
an FLL team, or in classes. The focus of this challenging and fast
paced class will be on improving robot design and programming
skills while emphasizing problem solving, teamwork and gracious
professionalism.
LEGO
Automata and Kinetic Art for ages 7-11
August 13, 14, 15, 2008. 9 AM - 12 Noon
Fee: $125
Class is limited to 12 students
Instructor: Mary Johnson
Automata are marvelous small machines created to amuse, entertain
or provoke thought. Students in this class will start by building a
few mechanisms from plans to get an idea of how to make their
sculpture move, then will work independently with LEGO pieces and
other craft materials to create automata of their own design.
This is primarily a design and building class, and many of the
sculptures will run off of LEGO battery boxes rather than LEGO RCX
or NXT bricks.
The Small Print
My classes are drop-off programs and start and end promptly.
The age limits for the programs are firm. I am scheduling a couple
of sessions for 5 and 6 year olds where the students will work on
projects independently (rather than in pairs or groups), the dates
for those are still in flux. I will post information on those
ASAP.
If you'd like to register, please email me with the program dates
in which you are interested. I'll email you back the registration
and release forms. Forms and payment must be returned to secure
your spot. Class size is small and the classes fill quickly,
please return your registration forms and payment quickly.
Instructors: Mary Johnson is an autodidactic home-schooling parent
and program manager of Keith Michael Johnson Educational Programs,
in Warwick, Rhode Island. Mary has coached in the FIRST LEGO League
for 4 years, has been teaching LEGO Robotics classes for 5-12 year
olds for 3 years; she also mentors new FLL coaches. Her team, the
EOT, won the RI FIRST LEGO League competition in 2007 and 2008. Dr.
Matthew Stein is an Associate Professor. School of Engineering,
Computing and Construction Management at Roger WIlliams University.
He holds a PhD in Robotics.
A limited number of scholarships are available. Contact Mary
Johnson for an application.