Using the AIBOs in a Using the AIBOs in a CS1 courseCS1 course

John Chilton and Maria GiniJohn Chilton and Maria Gini

Dept of CSE, University of Dept of CSE, University of MinnesotaMinnesota

OutlineOutline

Our CS1 courseOur CS1 course Why use the AIBO in a CS1 course?Why use the AIBO in a CS1 course? Educational objectivesEducational objectives Details on software and assignmentDetails on software and assignment EvaluationEvaluation

Our CS1 courseOur CS1 course The course is taken mostly by freshmenThe course is taken mostly by freshmen The course is based on SchemeThe course is based on Scheme 120-130 students a semester.120-130 students a semester. 3 hours lecture and a 2 hours lab done in 3 hours lecture and a 2 hours lab done in

smaller groupssmaller groups The course is part of a 3-years project to The course is part of a 3-years project to

improve learning in large classes by improve learning in large classes by using active learning and group activitiesusing active learning and group activities

Why use the AIBO in a CS1 Why use the AIBO in a CS1 course?course?

Making the material fun and Making the material fun and interesting to encourage students to interesting to encourage students to major in CSmajor in CS

Students think that Scheme is Students think that Scheme is abstract, esoteric, and has limited abstract, esoteric, and has limited value. By showing they can use it to value. By showing they can use it to control the AIBO they see it can be control the AIBO they see it can be used for a broad set of applicationsused for a broad set of applications

Educational Objectives: Educational Objectives: Collaboration and CompetitionCollaboration and Competition

Engage the students, make them active Engage the students, make them active learners, build a sense of belonging to a learners, build a sense of belonging to a groupgroup

Cooperation is more than working Cooperation is more than working together, it requires a common goal and together, it requires a common goal and motivation motivation

Competition between groups creates the Competition between groups creates the common goal – winningcommon goal – winning

Everyone received full credit for Everyone received full credit for participation. Group rewarded with extra participation. Group rewarded with extra credit for winning teams and pride.credit for winning teams and pride.

Details on assignmentDetails on assignment Two hours lab, 7-8 students per teamTwo hours lab, 7-8 students per team Each team had to make the AIBO to dance and Each team had to make the AIBO to dance and

demonstrate the dance. Peers voted on a winnerdemonstrate the dance. Peers voted on a winner Use an agenda data structure (a table with times Use an agenda data structure (a table with times

and events stored in queues) to add delays between and events stored in queues) to add delays between actions and to sequence the actions. Actions can actions and to sequence the actions. Actions can add other actions to the agenda.add other actions to the agenda.

Students couldStudents could– Control the LEDs on the dog faceControl the LEDs on the dog face– Motions -- walk, rotate, sit, stand, pounce – and Motions -- walk, rotate, sit, stand, pounce – and

control individual jointscontrol individual joints– Produce sounds and play musicProduce sounds and play music

SoftwareSoftware

Server side implementation for remote Server side implementation for remote wireless communication with AIBO, called A wireless communication with AIBO, called A MOdular Remote AIBO Interface (AMORAI)MOdular Remote AIBO Interface (AMORAI)

The AMORAI server framework is The AMORAI server framework is implemented as a collection of Tekkotsu implemented as a collection of Tekkotsu behaviors, each which listens or write to a behaviors, each which listens or write to a port. port.

The client side AMORAI application is The client side AMORAI application is implemented in Guile. It uses the AIBO IP implemented in Guile. It uses the AIBO IP address to connect with the socket that address to connect with the socket that listens to the AIBO. listens to the AIBO.

Play Movie

Student EngagementStudent Engagement

Students found the lab fun and Students found the lab fun and engagingengaging

Noise level was upNoise level was up Spontaneous group activities, Spontaneous group activities,

drawing at the white board, drawing at the white board, discussing with team matesdiscussing with team mates

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

seldom sometime often

contributedideasencouragedotherscompromised

willing to follow

took initiative

helped solveproblemsdid fair share ofwork

Software available atSoftware available at

http://www.cs.umn.edu/~chilton/amorai

For more information emailFor more information email chilton@cs.umn.edu

gini@cs.umn.edu

Educational objectivesEducational objectives

Increase confidence by hands-on Increase confidence by hands-on programmingprogramming

Solve real world problemsSolve real world problems Work in groupsWork in groups Combine collaboration with Combine collaboration with

competitioncompetition

We want to address some of the issues that affect recruiting and retention in CS programs, by:

EvaluationEvaluation A questionnaire was given to the students directly A questionnaire was given to the students directly

after the activity. In response to the question, after the activity. In response to the question, ``Do you have any thoughts you would be willing ``Do you have any thoughts you would be willing to share about the lab? Was it fun?'', a great to share about the lab? Was it fun?'', a great majority (83 out of 97) indicated they enjoyed the majority (83 out of 97) indicated they enjoyed the lab, 12 did not answer the question and only two lab, 12 did not answer the question and only two students wrote that they disliked the lab.students wrote that they disliked the lab.

In an anonymous course evaluation in response to In an anonymous course evaluation in response to a similar question, 52 out of 56 students indicated a similar question, 52 out of 56 students indicated they enjoyed the lab, two students did not they enjoyed the lab, two students did not respond, and again only two students disliked the respond, and again only two students disliked the lab.lab.

Contributed Contributed ideasideas

55 3030 6262

Encouraged Encouraged others in others in groupgroup

33 3131 6363

CompromiseCompromised to d to cooperatecooperate

11 1717 7979

Willing to Willing to follow othersfollow others

22 1515 8080

Took Took initiativeinitiative

66 4444 4747

Helped to Helped to solve solve problemsproblems

55 4141 5151

Did share of Did share of workwork

44 3737 5656