Building Star Wars Droids Made Me a Better Teacher | Josh Montgomery | TEDxDayton

Summary

A computer science professor shares their journey of using robotics to foster critical thinking and problem-solving in students. After building an R2D2 replica, they created a project-based learning model where students could select and work on their own robots, such as a Mars rover and BB-8. Through failures and successes, students gained technical skills and a passion for learning. The professor advocates for a learning approach that focuses on student ownership, real-world applications, and engagement, ultimately helping students succeed both academically and in life.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker has been a nerd for life and is a computer science professor running technology for schools.
• 😀 Five years ago, the speaker was inspired by building a replica of R2D2 from Star Wars and wanted to venture into robotics.
• 😀 The speaker discovered builders clubs for creating replicas like R2D2, which sparked an interest in project-based learning.
• 😀 Building the R2D2 replica took 2.5 years, involved many failures, but ultimately led to greater confidence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• 😀 The speaker realized that failure is an important part of learning and no longer feared it.
• 😀 The idea of teaching students through a project-based learning program emerged from the speaker's own R2D2 building experience.
• 😀 The program was designed to teach technical skills such as programming, electronics, and system operations, while also assessing students' progress beyond letter grades.
• 😀 The key to the program's success was allowing students to select their own projects, fostering a sense of ownership and freedom.
• 😀 The speaker showcased various robots built by students, including R2D2, Mars Rover, and BB8, all with unique stories of challenges and success.
• 😀 Despite failures, students showed great persistence, learning, and improvement through their projects, demonstrating engagement and passion for their work.
• 😀 The program led to increased student grades and, more importantly, higher levels of engagement and passion for learning, showing the power of ownership in education.

Q & A

What inspired the speaker to start building robots?

The speaker was inspired by a couple of individuals building a replica of R2D2 from the Star Wars movie, and as a huge Star Wars fan, they decided to dive into robotics themselves.

How long did it take the speaker to build their R2D2 replica?

It took the speaker two and a half years to build their R2D2 replica.

What lesson did the speaker learn through the process of building R2D2?

The speaker learned the importance of persistence, critical thinking, problem-solving, and not being afraid to fail. They gained confidence through the process.

How did the speaker translate their personal learning experience into their classroom?

The speaker wanted to create a program that replicated their experience building R2D2, where students would work on projects that encouraged critical thinking and problem-solving, just as they did while building the robot.

What was the key to making the program successful in the classroom?

The key to success was allowing students to choose projects that they felt passionate about, giving them ownership and freedom to shape their learning experience.

Can you describe one of the robots featured in the presentation?

One of the robots featured is the Mars Rover, a one-quarter scale replica of the Curiosity Rover from Mars. The team had to figure out how to cut exact notches in steel and build their own rudimentary lathe to complete the project.

What challenges did the BB-8 robot team face during their project?

The BB-8 robot team faced a major challenge when the main motor blew up just before a public event with the lieutenant governor of Ohio. Despite this setback, the team was able to fix the motor and get the robot working again.

How did the student's grades change after implementing project-based learning?

The students' grades improved as a result of their increased engagement with the projects. However, the speaker emphasized that the main measure of success was not just grades, but the level of student engagement.

Why does the speaker consider project-based learning to be effective teaching?

The speaker believes project-based learning is effective because it allows students to deeply engage with the material through projects they care about, fostering passion and dedication while teaching them valuable skills.

How can the concept of project-based learning be applied to other subjects outside of robotics?

In other subjects, project-based learning can involve students taking ownership of projects that match their interests, such as writing a book for an English student, composing an album for a music student, or working on a campaign for a political science student.