CYCLES OF LEARNING
  • BLOG
  • TED
  • BOOK
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTACT

When curiosity is sparked...

deep cycles of learning can occur.

Exploring Robotics as a Model for the Human Nervous System

9/25/2024

 
Today in neuroscience class, I introduced the students to an EV3 robotic input-output system, aiming to draw parallels between robotics and the human nervous system.

I set up the robot with three sensors—touch, ultrasonic, and light—and programmed it with four input-output triggers. If students pushed the button, the motor would move. If they placed an object within three inches of the ultrasonic sensor, the robot would "growl." The light sensor triggered a heart display when a white surface was placed over it, and "angry eyes" when a black surface was detected.

While the button and ultrasonic sensor triggers were relatively easy for students to find, the light sensor triggers posed more of a challenge, encouraging deeper exploration.

Afterward, I prompted a discussion about how this robot system is similar to the human nervous system. We compared each robot part to neuron types—sensory, interneurons, and motor neurons—and talked about the implications of mimicking life through neural networks versus the simplicity of robotic code.

This exploration set the stage for future lessons on sensory-stimulus pathways, reflexes, and reactions, helping students understand the complexity of human input-output systems compared to robotic ones.
​
Check out some photos of the robot in action below!

Robotics for Social Good: "Bomb Squad" Simulation

12/11/2023

 
In our Design for Social Good class, students were given a final project challenge: to apply their CAD, electronics, and Robotics skills to simulate robotics' applications in military and law enforcement. Our specific task was to create a user-friendly CAD-designed controller housing an Arduino Leonardo. This controller could remotely operate a robot, simulating the disarmament of a hypothetical explosive. Students controlled their robots from a different location by using their phones as cameras, which were mounted on the robots. They streamed video to their control station through platforms like Zoom or FaceTime. To understand the project instructions and grading criteria, click here. For documentation, students recorded their streamed video and added voice-over narration to explain the process. Below is an example:

Robot Olympic: A Simplified Robotics Experience for New Learners

1/18/2023

 
Over the past two weeks I had the opportunity to develop and teach an elective class to expose students with no prior knowledge in Robotics to basic engineering and program via the Intersession program at my school. The program went well and the students seemed to benefit from a simplified/clear structure that leveraged autonomous robotics (via Lego EV3) and RC Robotics (via VEX V5) as the overarching pedagogical structure. Click here to access the curriculum for those of you who are also interested in introducing students to basic robotics at your school site or in your programs. 

My Entire Distance Learning Curriculum Resources for the Fall Semester

12/10/2020

 
As my first complete semester of 100% distance leaning comes to a close  (last spring was triage at best), I wanted to share all of my resources for fellow STEM teachers. I am by no means proud or this work as my curriculum was cut significantly short as I negotiated the myriad of distance learning roadblocks I'm sure we all faced. Regardless, there are nuggets that I am proud of, and some you might (specifically, chem, bio, and robotics teachers) find useful if you dig around enough. I simply feel an obligation to share. Reach out here with ANY questions. 

Chemistry Resources 
  • All Lesson Plans, Activities, and Simulations
Biology Resources
  • All Lesson Plans, Activities, and Simulations
​Robotics. Resources
  • All Lesson Plans, Activities, and Simulations

Current Thoughts on Distance Learning Science Engagement

10/7/2020

 
I was honored to give a presentation yesterday to colleagues in Utah on strategies to promote engagement in the sciences when teaching in a 100% distance learning setting.

Rather than share an exhaustive list og best practices (which are constantly evolving), I decided to give participants a snap shot of my current thinking on distance learning science pedagogy which is heavily informed by constant reflective practice.

​Click here for a link to a PDF of the presentation which features my top four current strategies. I am sure these will change...but sharing reflection and iteration, I feel, is very powerful. At least for me. And it's my blog. :) 
<<Previous
    Picture
    Ramsey Musallam is a full-time science teacher in Santa Rosa California.
    Starter Pack

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    3-Bullet Thursdays
    5E
    5E/Hero's Journey
    AI
    Apple Tv
    Arduino
    Assessment
    Assistive Technology
    Biochemistry
    Biology
    CAD
    ChatGPT
    Chemistry
    Clips
    Coding
    Cognition
    Commencement
    Commentary
    Computer Science
    Consulting
    Courses
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Curiosity
    Curriculum
    Design
    Distance Learning
    Engineering
    Feynman
    Flipped Learning
    Friday 5
    Game Design
    Games
    Google
    Hack Series
    Hands On
    Hands-On
    Hero's Journey
    Homework
    Inquiry
    Invention
    Itm
    Lecture
    Maker
    Masterclass
    Megacognition
    Misc.
    Models
    Movies
    Neuroscience
    Online Teaching
    Opioid Crisis
    PBL
    Pd
    Pedagogy
    Physics
    Podcast
    Presentation
    Presentations
    Products
    Programming
    Public
    Reflection
    Research
    Robotics
    Rubrics
    Science Camp
    Simulations
    Slides
    Social Good
    STEM
    Store
    Technology
    Tutorials
    Videos
    What If
    Workshop Materials
    Zoom

    Archives

    March 2025
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    July 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    March 2022
    January 2022
    August 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    November 2010

  • BLOG
  • TED
  • BOOK
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTACT