Learning to Code through Robotics

A real action based way to understand computer programming

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Course Info

Learn about robotics and develop your coding skills through robotics! Develop teaching skills and methods to help your students learn computer programming contents and techniques with a reality based approach using robots. Help your students develop algorithmic thinking skills and STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) contents through robotics and coding.

Main contents

Lego Education and Carnegie Mellon methodology;
Introduction to robotics;
EV3 hardware and software;
Programming inputs (sensors) and outputs (motors);
Loops and conditions;
Variables, data types, and operators;
Functions;
Robotics class management;
Robotics in the school curriculum.

* The course is held in the English language. English A2 (CEFR) level is recommended, but trainers are experienced in helping students with English language difficulties.

Course program

Day 1
Course and participant presentation; Coffee break; Understanding Mobile devices hardware and Operating Systems; Using and managing a mobile device; Lunch; Using GPS guiding apps to explore educational pathways: exploring Faro City/Lajes do Pico.

Day 2
Basic programming; Programming outputs (motors); Coffee break; Programming inputs (sensors). Lunch; Application tasks Coffee break; Loops and conditions.

Day 3
Coffee break; Application tasks; Lunch; Advanced loops and conditions; Coffee break; Group challenge.

Day 4
Variables, data types and operators; Coffee break; Application task; Lunch; Functions; Coffee break; Robotics class management.

Day 5
Adopting mobile devices and adapting strategies; Robotics in the school curriculum: adopting, adapting and integrating; Coffee break; Course evaluation and Certification; Lunch; Cultural activity: Faro, Algarve: boat trip visiting sand islands in Ria Formosa ; Lages do Pico, Azores: visit to whalers' museum and boat trip with whale watching.

Note: The course program can be changed according to participant's profile, local holidays or on the availability of schools to visit.

Target group

Primary school teachers, Secondary school teachers, School staff and School managers.

Course methodology

Brief introduction to each of the topics;
Participants are involved in practical tasks including robot hardware assembly, adjustment and configuration, programming and debugging;
Participants solve suggested tasks and challenges using EV3 software and hardware.
Each one or two participants (depending on the number of course participants) will have one computer and one EV3 robot to practice and solve the suggested challenges;
Participants share experiences and best solutions in group and plenary sessions;
Individually or in groups, participants reflect and debate on robotics class management and robotics introduction in the school curriculum.

Course fees

Course fee: 450,00€ per participant (click for detail)

Certification

Course participants will get a Certificate of participation and a Declaration of Obtained Competencies.

Competences acquired will be validated by the course organizers on the Europass mobility. Participants must ask their national agency to issue the Europass (Visit our website Documents > Europass mobility).

Accommodation and Meals

Participants book their accommodation. ACJ will advise participants for hotel choice in different price categories. Participants are free to choose hotels and restaurants. Accommodation is paid directly by participants to hotels and restaurants.

Lunches and coffee are available in or around the University of Algarve, where the course will take place.

Planned course editions

2024-07-15 to 2024-07-19, Lajes do Pico, Azores, Portugal (Opened)
2024-08-26 to 2024-08-30, Faro, Algarve, Portugal (Opened)
2025-08-25 to 2025-08-29, Faro, Algarve, Portugal (Opened)

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