Class Code: MR101   
Teacher: Dr. Nilda Martinez-Wuller
Teacher Email: nilda2004@sbcglobal.net
Description:

(This class is open to new Robotics students, those who have taken Robotics 100,  and those who have taken Robotics 101 before. Students who have taken Robotics 101 will work on more advanced Robotic concepts and become team leads. Students can take this class 3 times to explore Robotics in greater depth.)

Welcome to the world of robotics! This is a very hands-on class where students will use the VEX IQ robotics platform (https://www.vexrobotics.com) to work in teams of 2-3 students. The teams will be building and modifying robots throughout the school year. Students will also learn to keep an Engineering Notebook at their academic level.

In the fall semester, the students will build robots as they learn about robotic concepts such as friction, center of gravity, torque, gears, and mechanical advantage. They will focus on learning and constructing different object manipulators to plow, scoop, grab, and accumulate objects. They will also study multiple lifting mechanisms, such as the rotating joint and the 4-bar linkage. There will be several small class competitions as a training ground for the big match at the end of the school year.

In the spring semester, each team will build a robot for the end-of-the-year class competition modeled after the VEX IQ tournaments. Each team will devise a strategy to score the most points in the announced competition challenge. With this strategy in mind, they will design and build a robot as they apply the robotic concepts they learned during the fall semester. Each team will compete in alliance with another team. The competition will be fun and challenging!

This class will explore and develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills, critical thinking skills, problem-solving, team collaboration/dynamics, robot construction, building/understanding/evaluating different robotic arms and lifting mechanisms for specific functions, gear ratios for mechanical advantage, torque, center of gravity, friction, winning and losing, FIRST® ethics of Gracious Professionalism and fun competition.

Come and explore the world of Robotics!

Required supplies:  1) pen/pencil  2) double-sided tape  3) black Composition Graph Ruled notebook. 

Biography:

Nilda M. Martinez-Wuller attended Texas A&M University for her undergraduate degree.  She then attended Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas for her Medical Doctor degree and Children’s Medical Center for pediatric specialization.   She practiced clinical medicine (including administrative positions) for 20 years and also volunteered at North Dallas Shared Ministries Free Medical Clinic.  

She began her homeschooling journey with her 3 sons in 2007.   She worked with UTD during the 2014-2015 school year to form a competitive homeschool FIRST® FTC Robotics team due to her sons' interest in the STEM field.  During the 2015-2016 school year, she co-coached a team with UD and served as an FTC  competition judge.   During the 2015-2016 Robotics season, her team made it to Regionals.  She now teaches robotics at homeschool Co-Ops. 

Details:

Class meets on Tuesday from 9:30 AM to 10:25 AM & on Thursday from none to none