This year after programming their NXT robots to solve basic sensor and movement challenges, I gave the 5th graders a choice activity to end the quarter.  We had already programmed our robots to move and turn, detect obstacles in a “Roomba” challenge, and navigate basic mazes using the Ultrasonic sensor.  Teams of students worked on challenges that motivated them. Some students wanted to engage more with building custom robots, and others dug into programming challenges.  It was amazing to see them use their troubleshooting skills to actively find solutions to problems and test out their ideas.

There was so much industry and excitement in the room.  Most students chose to either build and program “sumo” robots or “drawbots.”  Sumo robots used their light sensor to compete against other robots and stay in the sumo ring.  Drawbots created original pieces of art and shapes on paper, a difficult engineering challenge.

Giving students more choice and opportunities to differentiate their learning is one of my personal goals as a teacher, particularly since I believe in the pedagogy of problem-based learning and maker education. It is not easy for multiple groups to be working on so many different projects in the same room at the same time!  However, I was inspired when I noticed how many times I saw students helping each other, collaborating, and learning together.  I’m looking forward to coming up with more choice options for next year!