We report on our experiences with a projectbased robotics class in which students designed a gardening multi-robot system, able to autonomously take care of tomato plants. We study the efficiency of different modes of interaction within the class and observe the emergence of peer-to-peer learning that has substantially contributed to the perceived learning experience. Results are based on an anonymous survey from a diverse student population with backgrounds from Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. We argue that project-based, collaborative learning is strongly beneficial to the students, and significantly extends learning that can be achieved during lectures and exercises alone, although requiring high effort and overcoming a steep learning curve.
Archives for June 2023
Enhancing Undergraduate Learning Through Mobile Robotics
This paper presents the development and implementation of an introductory mobile robotics course at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT). This course is one of the last courses in the multidisciplinary robotics minor available to computer science, computer, electrical, mechanical and software engineering students. The objective of this course is to present robotics applications and theory while also providing the students with an appreciation of their discipline and how it applies to other disciplines. The diversity of students in this course means that they will experience a more realistic model of their future workplace dynamic and demographic. The results of the first three offerings of this course will be presented as well as the lessons learned and recommendations for improvement.