Education Curriculum
Automation, in the broadest sense, is everywhere we look. In the future, we will rely more and more on technology to improve health care, transportation and logistics and the production of goods. Even if you don’t pursue a technical career, you’ll be better off with an understanding of the tools that drive our modern society.
All around the world governments and organizations realize that some knowledge about automation and computation should be taught in school. To this end new learning standards are proposed and implemented. Below you will find a mapping of what you can learn in the RoboMind Academy to standards such as set forth in the UK, US, and the Netherlands.
How RoboMind Academy maps to national curriculum standards
CSTA K-12 Computer Science - Level 2 (Grades 6-9, 10-14 years)
The Computer Science Teachers Association has formulated a core set of learning standards designed to provide the foundation for a complete computer science curriculum and its implementation at the K-12 level. Below an overview is given of the subset of these standards which match with the RoboMind Academy curriculum. For the complete overview of all standards as please go here.General Requirements
- Uses computational thinking for problem-solving
- See, for example, Basics-1: navigating, tracking and tracing, line following. Basics-2: mazes, vacuum cleaning, repairing roads.
- Addresses issues relevant to the world around us
- See, for example, Basics-1: navigating, tracking and tracing, line following. Basics-2: mazes, vacuum cleaning, repairing roads.
- Focuses on active learning and exploration
- Robomind Academy keeps students captivated for the whole duration of the course. Results are shown immediately. You can incrementally improve solutions until the robot does what you want. Work at your own speed while automatic hints help you further if needed.
- Introduces the fundamental concepts of computer science to all students
- RoboMind has proven to be an effective and motivating introduction. Fundamental concepts are learned in a fun way.
- Increases the availability of rigorous computer science for all students
- RoboMind is used all over the world and can be programmed in 27 languages.
- Prepares students to understand the nature of computer science and its place in the modern world
- Through a gradual build up through the courses, students will learn about loops, conditions, functions and general problem solving. For example in Basics-1: navigating, tracking and tracing, line following. Basics-2: mazes, reading barcodes, vacuum cleaning, repairing roads.
- Use computer science skills (especially computational thinking) in problem-solving activities in other subjects.
- The RoboMind Desktop environment supports export of programs to Lego MindStorm. See how your creations run in the real word. Calibrate your robot design. See how a RoboMind program compares to a program in the Lego environment.
Computational Thinking (CT)
- L2.CT-01 Understand and use the basic steps in algorithmic problem solving to design solutions
- Basics-1: navigating, tracking and tracing, line following.
- L2.CT-03 Define an algorithm as a sequence of instructions that can be processed by a computer
- Basics-1, 1-star challenges.
- L2.CT-04 Evaluate ways that different algorithms may be used to solve the same problem
- Basics-2: mazes, vacuum cleaning, repairing roads.
- L2.CT-05 Act out searching and sorting algorithms (2-5)
- Basics-2: vacuum cleaning, repairing roads, 3 and 4 star challenges
- L2.CT-07 Describe and analyze a sequence of instructions being followed
- Sequencing, tell what program is going to do; quizzes.
- L2.CT-06 Represent data in a variety of ways including text, sounds, pictures, and numbers
- Basics-2: random dice rolls, bar codes
- L2.CT-09 Interact with content-specific models and simulations
- All challenges.
- L2.CT-12 Use abstraction to decompose a problem into sub-problems
- Basics-1: line following, tracking and tracing. Basics-2: mazes.
Computing, Practice and Programming (CPP)
- CPP.L2-04 Demonstrate an understanding of algorithms and their practical application
- All quizzes, application: Basics-1: navigating, tracking and tracing, line following. Basics-2: mazes, vacuum cleaning, repairing roads.
- CPP.L2-05 Implement problem solutions using a programming language, including: looping behavior, conditional statements, logic, expressions, variables, and functions
- All content. Functions especially Basics-2: secret language, drawing portraits, reading barcodes.
- CPP.L2-06 Demonstrate good practices in personal information security, using passwords, encryption, and secure transactions
- RoboMind Academy is personal and users should demonstrate good personal information security, using passwords.
- CPP.L2-09 Collect and analyze data that is output from multiple runs of a computer program
- Especially random search exercises like Basics-2: vacuum cleaning, repairing roads.
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics
The Common Core State Standards provide a understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that young people need for success in college and careers.
Below the Mathematical Practice grouping of these standards as mapped to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science - Level 2 standards and the RoboMind Academy Curriculum. For the complete mapping to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science - Level 2 standards see this document.
- College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards: Reading
- CT.L2-06.
- Reading Standards for Literacy in Science/ Technical Subjects CT.L2-05 and CPP.L2-09
- College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards: Writing
- CT.L2-07.
- Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6-12
- CT.L2-07
- College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards: Language CT.L2-03.
- Standards for Mathematical Practice
- CT.L2-01,CT.L2-04, CT.L2-07, CT.L2-09, CT.L2-12, CPP.L2-04, CPP.L2-05, and CPP.L2-09.
STEM Cluster Topics
Below an overview of STEM Cluster Topics as mapped to CSTA K-12 Computer Science - Level 2 and the courses offered by the RoboMind Academy. For a complete mapping to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science - Level 2 standards see this document.- Academic Foundations
- CT.L2-01, CT.L2-07, CT.L2-09, and CPP.L2-09.
- Communications
- CT.L2-07.
- Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking
- CT.L2-01, CT.L2-05, CT.L2-06, CT.L2-12, CPP.L2-04, CPP.L2-05, and CPP.L2-09.
- Information Technology Applications CT.L2-01, CT.L2-04, CT.L2-05, CT.L2-06, CT.L2-07, CT.L2-09, CPP.L2-04, CPP.L2-05, and CPP.L2-09.
- Systems
- CT.L2-01.
- Technical Skills
- CT.L2-07, CPP.L2-06 and CPP.L2-09.
Advanced Placement Computer Science (AP Comp Sci)
Advanced Placement Computer Science A emphasizes object-oriented programming methodology with an emphasis on problem solving and algorithm development. It also includes the study of data structures and abstraction. For a complete overview see this document. Topics from APCS covered to a certain extend in the RoboMind Academy are listed below:- Read and understand a problem's description, purpose, and goals
- Specify the purpose and goals for a problem
- Decompose a problem into subproblems
- Identify reusable components from existing code
- Control: Methods, Sequential, Conditional, Iterations, and Recursion
- Testing
- Debugging
- Categorize errors
- Understand and modify existing code
- Reason about programs: Preconditions and postconditions
- Analysis of algorithms Informal comparisons of running times: Exact calculation of statement execution counts, Worst-case and average-case time and space analysis
- Searching
- Computing in Context
Partnership for 21st Century Essential Skills
To help practitioners integrate skills into the teaching of core academic subjects, the Partnership has developed a unified, collective vision for learning known as the Framework for 21st Century Learning. This Framework describes the skills, knowledge and expertise students must master to succeed in work and life; it is a blend of content knowledge, specific skills, expertise and literacies. For more information see this document.
Below the so called "Partnership for 21st Century Essential Skills " are mapped to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science - Level 2 standards and the RoboMind Academy Curriculum. For the complete mapping to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science - Level 2 standards see this document.
- Demonstrate originality and inventiveness in work and understand the real world limits to adopting new ideas
- Elaborate, refine, analyze and evaluate ideas in order to improve and maximize creative efforts
- View failure as an opportunity to learn; understand that creativity and innovation is a long-term, cyclical process of small successes and frequent mistakes
- Reason Effectively
- Use Systems Thinking
- Make Judgments and Decisions
- Solve Problems
- Information Literacy
- Work Independently
- Be Self-directed Learners
Computing programmes of study
The computing programmes of study as published by the UK Department of Education states that:
- A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world.
- Computing provides insights into both natural and artificial systems.
- Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate.
- The core of computing is computer science.
Below a mapping is given between the courses offered by the RoboMind Academy and the computing programmes of study for each relevant Key Stage.
Key Stage 1 (5-7 years)
- Understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices.
- Basics-1, 1-star challenges.
- Create and debug simple programs
- First Steps, Introduction, 1-star challenges, Basics 1-1.
- Use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs (sequencing)
- All quizzes, First Steps.
Key Stage 2 (7-11 years)
- Design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems
- Basics-1: navigating, tracking and tracing, line following. Basics-2: mazes, vacuum cleaning, repairing roads
- Solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
- Basics-1: line following, tracking and tracing, Basics-2: mazes
- Use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs
- Basics-1: slalom, painting floors, factories
- Work with variables and various forms of input and output
- Basics-1: navigating, tracking and tracing, line following.
- Use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work
- All quizzes.
- Detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
- All challenges, specifically Basics-2: reading barcodes.
- Select, use and combine a variety of software on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals
- The RoboMind Desktop environment supports export of programs to Lego MindStorm. See how your creations run in the real word. Calibrate your robot design. See how a RoboMind program compares to a program in the Lego environment.
Key Stage 3 (11-14 years)
- Understand several key algorithms that reflect computational thinking
- Basics-2: mazes, vacuum cleaning, repairing roads.
- Use logical reasoning to compare the utility of alternative algorithms for the same problem
- Basics-2: mazes, vacuum cleaning, repairing roads.
Kerndoelen
Kerndoelen geven aan wat iedere basisschool in elk geval moet nastreven om hun leerlingen mee te geven. Deze doelen omschrijven het eind van een leerproces, niet de wijze waarop ze kunnen worden bereikt. De kerndoelen zijn te vinden op de website van het Nationaal Expertisecentrum Leerplanontwikkeling (SLO). Met RoboMind lesmateriaal komen de volgende kerndoelen aan bod:- Nederlands: Schriftelijk onderwijs
- 4. De leerlingen leren informatie te achterhalen in informatieve en instructieve teksten, waaronder schema’s, tabellen en digitale bronnen.
- Rekenen/Wiskunde: Wiskundig inzicht en handelen
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23. De leerlingen leren wiskundetaal gebruiken.
24. De leerlingen leren praktische en formele rekenwiskundige problemen op te lossen en redeneringen helder weer te geven.
- Oriëntatie op jezelf en de wereld: Natuur en techniek
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44. De leerlingen leren bij producten uit hun eigen omgeving relaties te leggen tussen de werking, de vorm en het materiaalgebruik.
45. De leerlingen leren oplossingen voor technische problemen te ontwerpen, deze uit te voeren en te evalueren.
Natuur, Leven en Technologie (NLT)
Natuur, Leven en Technologie (NLT) is een vak voor de bovenbouw havo en vwo (Tweede Fase). NLT laat zien hoe een combinatie van verschillende disciplines nodig is om complexe vraagstukken uit de wereld van bèta en technologie op te lossen. Het vak is bedoeld als afronding van de natuurprofielen en als voorbereiding op de keuze voor een studie op het gebied van bèta/technologie. Meer over NLT is te vinden op de NLT website.
De volgende vaardigheden voor het vak NLT worden in meer of mindere mate getraind in de RoboMind Academy:
- Domein A: Vaardigheden
-
A01: Informatievaardigheden gebruiken
A03: Reflecteren op leren
A04: Studie en beroep
A05: Onderzoeken
A06: Ontwerpen
A07: Modelvorming
A08: Natuurwetenschappelijk instrumentarium
A11: Redeneren
A12: Rekenkundige en wiskundige vaardigheden
- Domein B: Exacte wetenschappen en technologie
-
B1: Interdisciplinariteit
B2: Wisselwerking tussen natuurwetenschap en technologie
- Domein E: Technologische ontwikkeling
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E1: Methoden en technieken van technologische ontwikkeling
E2: Processen en producten - Domein F Fundamenten van natuurwetenschap en technologie
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F1: Fundamentele theorieën
F2: Methoden en technieken van onderzoek
Resources
- Computer Science Teachers Association
- CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards
- Common Core State Standards
- College Board AP Computer Science A Course Description.
- Framework for 21st Century Learning
- National Curriculum in England: computing programmes of study
- Digitale geletterdheid in het Voortgezet Onderwijs. Vaardigheden en attitudes voor de 21ste eeuw
- Nationaal Expertisecentrum Leerplanontwikkeling (SLO)
- Natuur Leven en Technologie (NLT)
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