Secret Message WordBot (Ages 8-17)  

Create your own WordBot!  WordBot has a special LED display, which you will wire-up, to display letters and messages!

You will learn about circuits, LEDs, 7 segment displays, resistance, binary (the language of robots), and how to bring your WordBot to life!

This workshop is offered at 3 levels:

• Standard (2-4hr) - WordBot has a special LED display, which you will wire-up, to display a single letter of your choice!
• Extended (1 day) - You will build your WordBot using a microcontroller to teach it to display your secret message one letter at a time.
• Advanced (5 days) - You will learn how to design, build, and code every part of your own WordBot using an Ardiuno microcontroller.

 

Standard

In this workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of circuits, LEDs, 7-segment displays, resistance, and binary (the language of robots).
They will learn how to wire up a 7-segment display to the circuit to display a single letter of their choice.

By the end of the workshop, students will have a basic understanding of electronics and will have built their own simple WordBot that can display a single letter.

 

Extended

In this workshop, students will build their own WordBot using a microcontroller and a 7-segment display. They will start by learning the basics of circuits, LEDs, and 7-segment displays, before moving on to learn about binary code and number conversion.

Students will choose a secret message and learn how to convert each letter into a unique binary code. They'll then learn how to convert these binary codes into decimal numbers, which they will use to teach their WordBot to display the message one letter at a time.

By the end of the workshop, students will have built their own WordBot that can display their secret message one letter at a time, using the number codes they created through the conversion process. They'll have learned valuable skills in electronics and problem-solving, and will have a deeper understanding of how computers communicate and store information.

 

Advanced

In this workshop, students will learn how to design, build, and code their own WordBot using an Arduino microcontroller. They'll start by learning the basics of circuits and LEDs and will then move on to learn how to design the body of their robot using Inkscape (a vector graphics editor), and have it laser-cut out of plastic.

 

Students will learn what a 7-segment display is and how it works. They'll choose a secret message and learn how to convert each letter into a unique binary code. They'll then learn how to convert these binary codes into decimal numbers and use them to program their Arduino to control the 7-segment display on their WordBot.

 

Throughout the workshop, students will learn the basics of programming using Scratch, a free block-based visual programming language developed by MIT. Scratch is a user-friendly language that allows students to drag and drop programming blocks to create animations, games, and interactive stories. By learning Scratch, students will gain valuable skills in logic and problem-solving, while also developing a foundation for future programming languages. They will use Scratch to control their WordBot to display messages.

 

This workshop is also great for students who are learning to read and spell, including non-native English speakers, as it provides a fun and interactive way to practice and develop these skills. By building and programming their own WordBot, students will gain a deeper understanding of the English alphabet, letters, and words, while also developing valuable skills in electronics, programming, and design.

 

By the end of the workshop, students will have built their own advanced WordBot that can display their secret message one letter at a time, using the programming skills they learned to control the 7-segment display on their WordBot. They'll have developed valuable skills in electronics, programming, and design, and will have a deeper understanding of how robots can be designed and programmed to communicate and store information.

Outline

• Day 1
  • Laptop setup (install Inkscape, Scratch, and Arduino)
  • LED Challenge - Connect an LED to the Arduino and use Scratch to turn it on and off remotely
  • Light Sensor Challenge - Connect a light sensor to the Arduino and use it to trigger an animation based on light/dark
• Day 2
  • Build Display - connect all the wires from the 7 segment display to the Arduino
  • Program Scratch to control all 7 LEDs on the 7-segment display
• Day 3
  • Design the body of your robot using a drawing program called Inkscape so we can laser-cut your robot out of plastic
  • Secret Message - choose your message and begin creating the letters and encoding them into computer language: binary.
• Day 4
  • Assemble your WordBot - using the body you designed and laser-cut, and the display you built.
  • Start coding your WordBot to display your secret message
• Day 5
  • Finish coding your WordBot to display your secret message
  • Student Showcase - show the class your finished WordBot and see if they can guess your secret message
  • Certificates of Completion awarded

 

Objectives

• To introduce students to the basics of electronics, programming, and design
• To provide students with hands-on experience in building and programming a robotic device
• To teach students how to use binary and 7-segment displays to display letters and messages
• To develop students' problem-solving and critical thinking skills

Deliverables

• Completed WordBot device with a 7-segment display for displaying letters and messages
• Understanding of basic electronics principles, such as resistance and circuits
• Ability to wire and connect a 7-segment display
• Understanding of binary and the ability to convert letters to binary and decimal values
• Knowledge of the basics of programming using Scratch
• Ability to use Scratch to control a display device
• Understanding of basic design principles and the ability to create a design for the robot body using Inkscape
• Laser-cut plastic body for the WordBot
• Improved problem-solving and critical thinking skills