Fwd: RE: [unschoolingbasics] math questions
christy_imnotred
--- In [email protected], "Sharon Thomas"
<meplusfive@b...> wrote:
"Robyn,
I agree with your post but have to say I have thought some of the
same
thoughts as the previous poster.I thought I had worked through my
doubts but
with our teenage son who wants to go into robotics I have found myself
wondering if I should have or should be doing something more on the
math
subject. He understands all about electronics and motors etc. but
still has
no interest in learning about other math that may be on the tests."
My son is very into robotics, so I've done a lot of research into
it. Most robot builders don't have degrees in it. They just build a
lot of robots. They keep playing with designs and building them
differently until they get ones they want. I think this is field
where college really isn't necessary. Has he read up on some of the
big name robot builders? Like the guys on Myth Busters or the guys
on Robot Rivals? I believe that practical hands on experience is
much more important than theoretical math when it comes to robot
building. Can he build a robot and take it to a robot combat
competition? He would meet so many robot builders there and find out
what is really involved in making a career out of it. My son and I
are working on our first robot and I know nothing about any of it.
I'm learning as we go. I have to tell you, math hasn't been any part
of what we are doing, beyond measuring stuff to make sure it will fit.
Christy
<meplusfive@b...> wrote:
"Robyn,
I agree with your post but have to say I have thought some of the
same
thoughts as the previous poster.I thought I had worked through my
doubts but
with our teenage son who wants to go into robotics I have found myself
wondering if I should have or should be doing something more on the
math
subject. He understands all about electronics and motors etc. but
still has
no interest in learning about other math that may be on the tests."
My son is very into robotics, so I've done a lot of research into
it. Most robot builders don't have degrees in it. They just build a
lot of robots. They keep playing with designs and building them
differently until they get ones they want. I think this is field
where college really isn't necessary. Has he read up on some of the
big name robot builders? Like the guys on Myth Busters or the guys
on Robot Rivals? I believe that practical hands on experience is
much more important than theoretical math when it comes to robot
building. Can he build a robot and take it to a robot combat
competition? He would meet so many robot builders there and find out
what is really involved in making a career out of it. My son and I
are working on our first robot and I know nothing about any of it.
I'm learning as we go. I have to tell you, math hasn't been any part
of what we are doing, beyond measuring stuff to make sure it will fit.
Christy
Sharon Thomas
**I have to tell you, math hasn't been any part
of what we are doing, beyond measuring stuff to make sure it will fit.**
Christy,
that is great! definitely something I needed to hear. How old is your
son?Mine is 16. He has searched the internet for robot stuff but whether or
not he has looked in the builders I don't know. He did that with R/C's and
learned a lot. I will mention it to him.
He got a book from Books_a_Million a couple of weeks ago that he has been
pouring over titled: Build your own all terrain robot.
Thanks for the ideas on the robot combat competition. He would love that.
Did your son design his own robot? Or did he find a kit?
Does he have a favorite magazine, book or tv. show he watches? My son likes
Modern Marvels,Junyard Wars and DIY. Some of the others are no longer on the
air.
sharon
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
of what we are doing, beyond measuring stuff to make sure it will fit.**
Christy,
that is great! definitely something I needed to hear. How old is your
son?Mine is 16. He has searched the internet for robot stuff but whether or
not he has looked in the builders I don't know. He did that with R/C's and
learned a lot. I will mention it to him.
He got a book from Books_a_Million a couple of weeks ago that he has been
pouring over titled: Build your own all terrain robot.
Thanks for the ideas on the robot combat competition. He would love that.
Did your son design his own robot? Or did he find a kit?
Does he have a favorite magazine, book or tv. show he watches? My son likes
Modern Marvels,Junyard Wars and DIY. Some of the others are no longer on the
air.
sharon
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
christy_imnotred
--- In [email protected], "Sharon Thomas"
<meplusfive@b...> wrote:
robots for 3 years! He is most into combat robots, although he also
is really interested in robots in space, like the Mars Rover. He has
designed many robots, most on paper, quite a few with Legos or now
K'Nex. We have a huge K'Nex robot kit that builds real, programmable
robots. We've played with that some. We are currently working on
modifying a Battlebots RC toy to make it combat ready. It involves
changing a lot of the electronics and body, but you use the basic
remote and computer card, so you don't have to do the programming.
Here is a webpage that describes how to do it:
http://www.robotcombat.com/marketplace_rcbattlebots.html
We plan on trying to fight it in the under 1 pound category. They
have competitions all over the country for that size robot.
http://www.sozbots.com/
My son's favorite shows about robots are Battlebots (which isn't
currently on the air, but I have a lot of them on tape, and we
recently bought the DVD of the first season), Robot Rivals, this is
on DIY Friday nights. 2 college teams compete to see how can build a
robot that does a specific task in a set amount of time. We've
learned so much from that show! I know one of the guys on the show
has a non-profit to teach kids about robotics. You can look them up
on the DIY webpage.
There are lots of good kits for building robots, also places where
you can buy parts and design your own.
http://www.robotmarketplace.com/
Has your son built any robots yet? That is really where he needs to
start, just building. He will learn much more by doing than he ever
will by reading about it. One of the best books about building
robots that I've read is called The Absolute Beginners Guide to
Building Robots. Check your library, mine had lots of book on robot
building. I checked them all out and found the one that worked best
for me.
Hope that helps,
Christy
<meplusfive@b...> wrote:
>your
> Christy,
> that is great! definitely something I needed to hear. How old is
> son?Mine is 16.Mine is a lot younger, only 5! But he has been passionate about
robots for 3 years! He is most into combat robots, although he also
is really interested in robots in space, like the Mars Rover. He has
designed many robots, most on paper, quite a few with Legos or now
K'Nex. We have a huge K'Nex robot kit that builds real, programmable
robots. We've played with that some. We are currently working on
modifying a Battlebots RC toy to make it combat ready. It involves
changing a lot of the electronics and body, but you use the basic
remote and computer card, so you don't have to do the programming.
Here is a webpage that describes how to do it:
http://www.robotcombat.com/marketplace_rcbattlebots.html
We plan on trying to fight it in the under 1 pound category. They
have competitions all over the country for that size robot.
http://www.sozbots.com/
My son's favorite shows about robots are Battlebots (which isn't
currently on the air, but I have a lot of them on tape, and we
recently bought the DVD of the first season), Robot Rivals, this is
on DIY Friday nights. 2 college teams compete to see how can build a
robot that does a specific task in a set amount of time. We've
learned so much from that show! I know one of the guys on the show
has a non-profit to teach kids about robotics. You can look them up
on the DIY webpage.
There are lots of good kits for building robots, also places where
you can buy parts and design your own.
http://www.robotmarketplace.com/
Has your son built any robots yet? That is really where he needs to
start, just building. He will learn much more by doing than he ever
will by reading about it. One of the best books about building
robots that I've read is called The Absolute Beginners Guide to
Building Robots. Check your library, mine had lots of book on robot
building. I checked them all out and found the one that worked best
for me.
Hope that helps,
Christy
Jen Wiley-Cordone
Sharon,
You might also want to see if there is a chapter of FIRST in your
area....local companies sponsor town teams of teens to make robots.
There is a national competition and the final teams go to Florida.
www.usfirst.org. also http://www.botball.org/tournament/index.html
These are not school sponosored teams, but I have no idea if they
respect unschooling or not, but it's worth checking out if your ds is
interested.
Jen
You might also want to see if there is a chapter of FIRST in your
area....local companies sponsor town teams of teens to make robots.
There is a national competition and the final teams go to Florida.
www.usfirst.org. also http://www.botball.org/tournament/index.html
These are not school sponosored teams, but I have no idea if they
respect unschooling or not, but it's worth checking out if your ds is
interested.
Jen
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