junkbots: School Outreach 1

3 MINUTE READ

Junkbots session 1: Move the robot

from Junkbots: Move the robot

by Scott Turner

What is the Junkbots project

The Junkbots project has been running for a number of years as an initiative to bring sustainability, computing and engineering together by building bots out of junk; details of the project can be found at. https://junkbots.blogspot.com/ . Junkbots is an extension of the Research into the teaching problem-solving going on at the University of Northampton please feel to visit https://computingnorthampton.blogspot.com/2019/01/problem-solving-research-outputs-and.html for more details. These activities were tried to in a primary school.

What are we going to do?

Play with a Scratch robot on the screen! Guess what the routine does. Run the routine see if it does as we guessed. Consider what it did and if it is different to what we thought it was going to do. Change the routine a little bit to do another task.

Activity 1: What blocks are we using?

This means when the green flag is pressed do whatever follows.

This means place our robot (go to block) to point on the screen roughly in the centre of the screen.

Do you want a challenge: What do think would happen if instead 0 and 0 in the white spaces in the go to block, we put in 50 and 50? Have a guess.

This means stop the scratch program for 1 second and the carry on.

We can use this block to move the robot 50 steps on the screen in the direction it is facing.

Do you want a challenge: How do you think we could get the robot to move 100 steps? Have a guess.

We can use this block to turn the robot to the right 45 degrees.

Do you want a challenge: How do you think we could get the robot to move 90 degrees to the right? Have a guess.

We are also going to look at two more ‘things’ today: one new block and a new type of blocks to make our programming easier – the control blocks.

We can use this block to change the direction the robot faces.

When we click on the control button at the side we see several more blocks we can use.

One of these we have played with before the wait block.

The other two we are going to use today in later activities.

When we want to repeat a combination of blocks so many times, we can use the middle block and then change the 10 to the number of times we want to repeat.

If we want it repeat something forever (or until we stop the program with the red button) we can use the last block.

Activity 2: Have a go at guessing what it is going to do?

Using what you have learnt in Activity 1.

Let us look at this block of programming.

What do you think it is going to do? If you have someone helping you tell them what you think it does.

If you don’t get it exactly right, it is more important to have a guess.

Activity 3: Try it for yourself

Now go to the weblink: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/3 84342734 You should see something that looks like figure below 

Click on the box at the top of the screen that says see inside. You should a screen similar to figure above Now press the green flag it should now perform a little dance.

Questions

Does the robot work the way you thought it would from Activity 2? If it did move the way you thought– great! If it didn’t move the way thought still good. What was different?

Activity 4: Change it a bit

Save your work from Activity 3 by going to the top of the screen: find file, click on it and the click on Save to your computer. Then press the save button. Now change the code so that the robot moves in a square. Hint: We need to move in a straight line and then turn 90 degrees several times.

Did the robot work the way you thought it would? If it did move the way you thought– great! Can you make it move in a rectangle where two sides are longer than the other two? If it didn’t move the way thought still good. What was different?

Activity 5: Try it for yourself

Save your work from Activity 4. Now produce a dance routine for the robot. It must include moving forward and at least three turns.

You could also try adding in 

 Making it move backwards (negative number in the move block) 

 Turning left 

Activity 6: Have a go at guessing what it is going to do?

Follow this link to a new Scratch project https://bit.ly/ScratchJunkbot2

Challenge 1: Can you describe using the chat what you see it do?

Challenge 2: Can you rewrite the routine so when you press the green flag it hits the rock? What happens when it hits the rock share on the chat? Can you do this using less than seven blocks?

Challenge 3: Rewrite the routine so when we press the green flag it goes around the rock in a square. Hints: You did a similar task last week so please feel free use what you have done before. You might have to change the starting position of the robot. It is worth putting the wait blocks in to help you see it in action.

Activity 7: Modify and Make

Now go to the weblink: https://bit.ly/Junkbot3 Press the green flag and see what it does. Challenge 4: Using the chat describing what it did, please include when do you think it will stop? Challenge 5: How can we change this so that it goes around the rock twice?

Activity 8: Modify and make play

Challenge 6: Try and change what you did in Activity 3 so that the robot goes around the block in a different shape Challenge 7: The really tough challenge. How to we get the robot to move in a figure 8? It must not hit the rock. Have a go yourself and if you want to see one possible answer (there are more than one way to do this) go to https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/398164007/

Questions

Does the robot work the way you thought it would? If it did move the way you thought– great! Can you make it move in a rectangle where two sides are longer than the other two? If it didn’t move the way thought still good. What was different?If you would like to know more about the Junkbots project contact scott.turner@northampton.ac.uk

 If you would like to know more about the Junkbots project contact scott.turner@northampton.ac.uk

All views and opinions are the author's and do not necessarily reflected those of any organisation they are associated with. Twitter: @scottturneruon

Scott Turner (update 2016) - robots, genetic algorithms and problem-solving

 Some rights reserved by Patrick Hoesly

Research Interests

• Robotics
• Problem-solving and computer-related pedagogy
• Genetic Algorithms and Neural Network Applications
• Signal Progressing

Publications

1. Turner, S. J. (2016) Python junkbot. Poster presented to: Python Conference (PyCon) UK 2016, Cardiff, 15-19 September 2016.
2. Al-Rubaye, Z., Al-Sherbaz, A., McCormick, W. D. and Turner, S. J. (2016) Lameness detection in sheep through the analysis of the wireless sensor data. Workshop presented to: The University of Northampton Graduate School Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) Conference 2016, Northampton, 14 June 2016.
3. Turner, S. J. (2016) Enhancing computing student employability skills through partnership working in STEM outreach. In: Wu, B.and Kassel, S. (eds.) Software Engineering Education Going Agile: 11th China-Europe International Symposium on Software Engineering Education (CEISEE 2015). Cham: Springer International Publishing. 9783319291659. pp. 67-71.
4. Oakes, J., Johnson, M., Xue, J. and Turner, S. J. (2016) Simplified deployment of virtual machines using an intelligent design engine. In: Proceedings of Science and Information (SAI) Conference 2016. London: IEEE. 9781467384605. 
5. Al-Dabbagh, M., Al-Sherbaz, A. and Turner, S. J. (2016) Development [of] a real-time ITS using VANETs: a case study for Northampton Town. In: SAI Intelligent Systems Conference 2016. IEEE. 
6. Al-Sadi, A., Al-Sherbaz, A., Xue, J. and Turner, S. J. (2016) Routing algorithm optimization for Software Defined Network WAN.In: Al-Sadeq International Conference on Multidisciplinary in IT and Communication Science and Applications (AIC-MITCSA) - IRAQ (9-10) May. Baghdad, Iraq: IEEE. 
7. Olajubu, O., Ajit, S., Johnson, M., Turner, S. J., Thomson, S. and Edwards, M. (2016) A textual language for requirement modelling. Workshop presented to: School of Science and Technology Annual Research Conference, Newton Building, The University of Northampton, 02 March 2016.
8. Al-Sadi, A., Al-Sherbaz, A., Turner, S. J. and Xue, J. (2016) The management of distributed software defined networks in smart cities. Workshop presented to: School of Science and Technology Annual Research Conference, Newton Building, The University of Northampton, 02 March 2016. (Unpublished)
9. Al-Rubaye, Z., Al-Sherbaz, A., McCormick, W. D. and Turner, S. J. (2016) The use of multivariable wireless sensor data to early detect lameness in sheep. Workshop presented to: School of Science and Technology Annual Research Conference, Newton Building, The University of Northampton, 02 March 2016. (Unpublished)
10. Edan, N. M., Turner, S. J., Al-Sherbaz, A. and Ajit, S. (2016) Performance evaluation of QoS using SIP & IAX2 VVoIP protocols with CODECS. In: SAI Computing Conference 2016. London: IEEE. 9781467384605. (Accepted)
11. Al-Sadi, A., Al-Sherbaz, A., Xue, J. and Turner, S. J. (2015) The management of the future internet. Workshop presented to: 8th Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) Postgraduate Research Conference 2015: Innovation, Manchester Metropolitan University, 05 November 2015.
12. Olajubu, O., Ajit, S., Johnson, M., Turner, S. J., Thomson, S. and Edwards, M. (2015) Automated test case generation from domain specific models of high-level requirements. In: Proceedings of the 2015 Conference on Research in Adaptive and Convergent Systems. New York, NY, USA: ACM. 9781450337380. pp. 505-508.
13. Al-Khalil, A. B., Turner, S. J. and Al-Sherbaz, A. (2015) A predefined channel coefficients library for vehicle-to-vehicle communications. In: Rak, J., Mas Machuca, C., Oki, E., Papadimitriou, D., Vinel, A. and Walkowiak, K. (eds.) Proceedings of 2015 7th International Workshop on Reliable Networks Design and Modeling (RNDM). Munich, Germany: IEEE. 9781467380508. pp. 335-340.
14. Sidoumou, M. R., Turner, S. J., Picton, P., Bechkoum, K. and Benatchba, K. (2015) Multitasking in Emotion Modelling Attention Control. In: Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction (ACII). Xi'an, china: IEEE. 978-1-4799-9953-8/15.
15. Al-Khalil, A. B., Turner, S. J. and Al-Sherbaz, A. (2015) Utilising SCM – MIMO channel model based on V-BLAST channel coding in V2V communication. In: Kassab, M., Berbineau, M., Vinel, A., Jonsson, M., Garcia, F. and Soler, J. (eds.) Communication Technologies for Vehicles: 8th International Workshop, Nets4Cars/Nets4Trains/Nets4Aircraft 2015, Sousse, Tunisia, May 6-8, 2015. Proceedings. Sousse, Tunisia: Springer International Publishing. 9783319177649. pp. 3-11.
16. Turner, S. J. (2015) Enhancing computing student employability skills through partnership working in STEM outreach. Paper presented to: 11th China - Europe International Symposium on Software Engineering Education (CEISEE 2015), Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau (WHZ), Germany, 29-30 April 2015.
17. Ajah, S., Al-Sherbaz, A., Turner, S. J. and Picton, P. (2015) Machine–to–machine communications energy efficiencies: the implications of different M2M communications specifications. International Journal of Wireless and Mobile Computing (IJWMC).8(1), pp. 15-26. 1741-1084.
18. Al-Khalil AB, Al-Sherbaz A, Turner S (2014) Feasibility Study of Utilising SCM - MIMO Channel Model in V2V Communication. 7th international workshop on communication technologies for vehicles. 2014 Saint-Petersburg - Russia
19. Hill, G. and Turner, S. J. (2014) Problems First, Second and Third. International Journal of Quality Assurance in Engineering and Technology Education (IJQAETE). 3(3), pp. 88-109. ISSN: 2155-496  DOI: 10.4018/ijqaete.2014070104
20. Hill G, Turner S (2014) Chapter 5: Electronic Online Marking of Software Assignments", Progress in IS: Software Engineering Education for a Global E-service Economy, Motta, Gianmario; Bing, Wu (Eds.), Springer, ISBN 978-3-319-04216-9, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-04217-6_5
21. Forti Y, Bechkoum K, Turner S and Ajit S (2014) The adoption of e-government in Arab Countries - The case of Libya European Conference on eGovernment ECEG 2014 Spiru Haret University, Romania 12-13 June 2014
22. Hill G, Svennevik E, Turner S (2014) "Computer Science Courses Using Laptops" Innovation in Teaching and Learning in Information and Computer Sciences (preprint)   doi:10.11120/ital.2014.00011
23. Ajah S, Al-Sherbaz Ali, Turner S, Picton P (2014) "Sub 1GHz M2M Communications Standardization: The Advancement in White Space Utilization for Enhancing the Energy Efficiency" PGNet 2014 Liverpool John Moore's University, UK 23rd June 2014.
24. Turner S, Holmes N, Gordon A (2014) "Visualising the Field" Workshop Northampton Learning and Teaching Conference 2014- Northampton 2018: Planning, Designing and Delivering Student Success University of Northampton 22nd May 2014
25. Sinclair J, Allen A, Davis L, Goodchild T, Messenger J, Turner S (2014) "Enhancing student employability skills through partnership working in STEM outreach " Northampton Learning and Teaching Conference 2014- Northampton 2018: Planning, Designing and Delivering Student Success University of Northampton 22nd May 2014
26. Sinclair J, Allen A, Davis L, Goodchild T, Messenger J, Turner S (2014) "Enhancing student employability skills through partnership working in STEM outreach; the University of Northampton approach " HEA STEM Annual Teaching and Learning Conference 2013: Enhancing the STEM Student Journey, University of Edinburgh, 30th April-1st May 2014
27. Turner S (2014) "Greenfoot in Problem solving and Artificial Intelligence" CEISEE 2014 University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu China 24-25 April 2014. 2013
28. Kaczmarczyk S, Mirhadizadeh S, Picton P, Salamaliki-Simpson R, Turner S (2013) Modelling, simulation and experimental validation of nonlinear dynamic interactions in an aramid rope system ICOVP Lisbon, Portugal 9-12 September 2013
29. Shwail SH, Karim A, Turner S.(2013): Probabilistic Multi Robot Path Planning in Dynamic Environments: A Comparison between A* and DFS. International Journal of Computer Applications 82(7):29-34, November 2013. Published by Foundation of Computer Science, New York, USA  http://dx.doi.org/10.5120/14130-2251[ST1] 
30. Turner S (2013) Junkbots - it is not one thing! Engage 2013 27-28th September 2013
31. Hill G and Turner S (2013) Electronic Online Marking Of Software Assignments (EOMOSA) CEISIE 2013 13th -14th May 2013 Milan
32. Turner S (2013) Junkbots HEA STEM: Annual Learning and Teaching Conference 2013: Where practice and pedagogy meet 17 Apr 2013 - 18 Apr 2013
33. Al-Khalil AB, Al-Sherbaz A, Turner S (2013) Enhancing the Physical Layer in V2V Communication Using OFDM - MIMO Techniques 14th Annual PostGraduate Symposium on The Convergence of Telecommunications, Networking and Broadcasting (PGNET 2013) in Liverpool 24-25th June 2013.
34. Turner, S (2012) Case Studies in Web Sustainability Ariadne No 70 ISSN: 1361-320
35. Maunder, R., Turner, S., Sneddon, S. and Crouch, A. (2012) Editorial. Enhancing the Learner Experience in Higher Education. 4(1), pp. 1-2. 2041-3122.
36. Turner, S. and Al-Sherbaz, A. (2012) What's the problem with problem-solving? Seminar Presentation presented to: Insights into the future of learning and teaching at Northampton, University of Northampton, 3rd December 2012.
37. Kariyawasam K., A., Turner S., Hill G. (2012) "Is it Visual? The importance of a Problem Solving Module within a Computing course", Computer Education, Volume 10, Issue 166, May 2012, pp. 5-7, ISSN: 1672-5913.
38. Hill G., Turner S. (2012) "Referencing within Code in Software Engineering Education!", Computer Education, Volume 10, Issue 166, May 2012, pp. 1-4, ISSN: 1672-5913. 2011
39. Turner S (2011) "Enhancing the Sustainability of the East Midlands Knowledge Network: final Report " [online] URL: http://ie-repository.jisc.ac.uk/563/2/EMKN_final_report_output4337.doc accessed on: 6/12/2011.
40. Turner S (2011) Neural Nets Robotics Workshop. Bot Shop! University of Derby, 28th October 2011.
41. Hill G, Turner S (2011) Chapter 7 Problems First Software Industry-Oriented Education Practices and Curriculum Development: Experiences and Lessons edited by Drs. Matthew Hussey, Xiaofei Xu and Bing Wu. ISBN: 978-1609607975 IGI Global June 2011  DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60960-797-5.ch007
42. Hill, G, Svennevik E, Turner S (2011) "Green Computer Science Courses. No more labs full of computers, we're going mobile!" The 7th China - Europe International Symposium on Software Industry Oriented Education (CEISIE 2011), University of Northampton 23-24th May 2011
43. Turner S (2011) "Junkbots" The 7th China - Europe International Symposium on Software Industry Oriented Education (CEISIE 2011), University of Northampton 23-24th May 2011
44. McGovern K, Mothersole P, Turner S (2011) "Influencing students' construction of personalised concept maps through the use of query expansion (QE) searching of the World Wide Web" Learning Global, University of Northampton 11th May 2011
45. Kariyawasam K and Turner (2011) "Is it Visual? problem solving evaluation" Learning Global,University of Northampton 11th May 2011
46. Goodchild T, Dravid R, Turner S (2011) "Mind the Gender Gap - Reflections on addressing gender diversity in Computing and Engineering" Learning Global,University of Northampton 11th May 2011
47. Wang, Y., Picton, P., Turner, S. and Attenburrow, G (2011) The Subjective Measurement of Leather Handle by Descriptive Sensory Analysis, Journal of the American Leather Chemists Association, Apr 2011 pp 134-139 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08839514.2011.545218
48. Wang, Y., Picton, P., Turner, S. and Attenburrow, G (2011) Predicting Leather Handle like an Expert Artificial Neural Networks, Applied Artificial Intelligence, Volume 25, Issue 2 February 2011 , pages 180 - 192 ISSN: 0883-9514 DOI:10.1080/08839514.2011.545218 pp 180-192.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08839514.2011.545218
49. Zhao F, Turner S, Hill G, Dravid R, Zhang Y (2010) A Virtual Environment Training System for Haptic Laparoscopic Surgery 16th International Conference on Automation and Computing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK, 11 September 2011
50. Turner S and Hill G (2010) "Innovative use of Robots and Graphical Programming in Software Education" Computer Education Ser. 117 No. 9 pp 54-57 ISSN: 1672-5913
51. Turner S (2010) "PowerPoint is just the start" Learning Dialogues: Learning and Teaching Conference, University of Northampton 13th May 2010
52. Turner S (2010) "Initial Experience of using Audio Feedback" Learning Dialogues: Learning and Teaching Conference, University of Northampton 13th May 2010 2009
53. Turner S(2009) " PowerPoint, but what else?"10th Higher Education Academy-ICS Conference, University of Kent, 24-27th August 2009, pp 151 ISBN 978-0-9559676-6-5
54. Turner S (2009)"Initial experience of using audio feedback for general assignment feedback" A Word In Your Ear 2009 Sheffield Hallam University, 18 December 2009 pg 12
55. Turner S, Hill G, Adams J (2009) "Robots in problem solving in programming" 9th 1-day Teaching of Programming Workshop, University of Bath, 6th April 2009.
56. Turner S (2009) "Tiddlywikis for student developed resources" Transitions: Teaching and Learning Conference 13th May 2009 University of Northampton.
57. Turner S and Hill G(2008) "Robotics within the Teaching of Problem-Solving" ITALICS vol. 7 No. 1 June 2008 pp 108-119 ISSN 1473-7507http://dx.doi.org/10.11120/ital.2008.07010108
58. Turner S (2008) "TiddlyWikis for Student Developed Resources" 9th Higher Education Academy-ICS Annual Conference, Liverpool Hope University, 26th August - 28th August 2008. pp. 192 ISBN 978-0-9559676-0-3.
59. Turner S and Adams J (2008) "Robots and Problem Solving" 9th Higher Education Academy-ICS Annual Conference, Liverpool Hope University, 26th August - 28th August 2008. pp. 14 ISBN 978-0-9559676-0-3.
60. Minai, A, Turner S, and Hill. G (2008) "Motivational Differences in Learning Internet Programming Between Arts and Computing Students" 9th Higher Education Academy-ICS Annual Conference, Liverpool Hope University, 26th August - 28th August 2008. pp. 197 ISBN 978-0-9559676-0-3.
61. Adams, J. and Turner, S., (2008) Problem Solving and Creativity for Undergraduate Computing and Engineering students: the use of robots as a development tool Creating Contemporary Student Learning Environments 2008, Northampton, UK.
62. Adams, J. and Turner, S., (2008) Problem Solving and Creativity for Undergraduate Engineers: process or product? International Conference on Innovation, Good Practice and Research in Engineering Education 2008, Loughborough, UK.
63. Adams, J., Turner, S., Kaczmarczyk, S., Picton, P. and Demian, P.,(2008). Problem Solving and Creativity for Undergraduate Engineers: findings of an action research project involving robots International Conference on Engineering Education ICEE 2008, Budapest, Hungary
64. Turner S and Hill G(2007) Robots in Problem-Solving and Programming 8th Annual Conference of the Subject Centre for Information and Computer Sciences, University of Southampton, 28th - 30th August 2007, pp 82-85 ISBN 0-978-0-9552005-7-1
65. Wang, Y., Picton, P, Turner, S. and Attenburrow, G.,(2007) A Neural Network Approach to Investment the Objective and Subjective Measurements of Leather Handle, in Proceedings of the AI-METH, 2007: p. 241-246.
66. Turner S (2007) Developing problem-solving teaching material based upon Microsoft Robotics Studio. 8th Annual Conference of the Subject Centre for Information and Computer Sciences, University of Southampton, 28th - 30th August 2007 pp 151 ISBN 0-978-0-9552005-7-1
67. Turner S (2007) Developing problem-solving teaching materials based upon Microsoft Robotics Studio. Innovative Teaching Development Fund Dissemination Day 1st March 2007 Microsoft:London
68. Salamaliki-Simpson, R., Kaczmarczyk, S., Picton, P., Turner, S(2006), The Vibration Study of Non-Linear Interactions in a Moving Elevator Car-Suspension Rope System. Proceedings of the Symposium on the Mechanics of Slender Structure (MoSS 2006), 28 - 29 September 2006, Northampton, Paper #10, CD-ROM.
69. Salamaliki-Simpson R, Kaczmarczyk S, Picton P, Turner S (2006) Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Modern Practice in Stress and Vibrational Analysis, Bath U.K
70. Salamaliki-Simpson R, Kaczmarczyk S, Picton P, Turner S (2006) Non-Linear Modal Interactions in a Suspension Rope System with Time-Varying Length Journal of Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 5-6 pp 217-224 ISSN 1660-9336 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.5-6.217
71. Turner S and Hill G (2006) The Inclusion Of Robots Within The Teaching Of Problemsolving: Preliminary Results Proceedings of 7th Annual Conference of the ICS HE Academy Trinity College, Dublin, 29th - 31st August 2006 Proceedings pg 241-242 ISBN 0-9552005-3-9
72. Prince K, Campbell J, Picton P, Turner S (2005) A computational model of Acute Pain International Journal of Simulation: Systems, Science and Technology Vol. 6 No. 9 pp 1-10 ISSN 1473-8031.
73. Prince K, Campbell J, Picton P, Turner S (2005) A computational model simulating how pain modulation can occur through transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) International Conference on Computer Science & Information Systems Athens, Greece, June 15-18, 2005
74. Salamaliki-Simpson, R., Kaczmarczyk, S., Picton, P., Turner, S.(2005) The Dynamics and Vibration of an Elevator Car- Suspension Rope System. Proceedings of the Twelfth International Congress on Sound and Vibration, Lisbon, Portugal, 11-14 July 2005, Paper 303, CD-ROM, pp. 1-8.
75. McIntyre M and Turner S (2004) Learning to Teach at a Distance International Conference on Engineering Education Gainesville, 16-21 October 2004
76. Prince K, Campbell J, Picton P, Turner S (2004) A Model of acute Pain Magdeburg, Germany, 13-16 June 2004
77. Terumichi Y, Kaczmarczyk S, Turner S, Yoshizawa M, Ostachowicz W (2003) Modelling, Simulation and Analysis Techniques in the Prediction of Non-stationary Vibration Response of Hoist Ropes in Lift Systems Proc. 5th International Conference on Modern Practice in Stress and Vibration Analysis September University of Glasgow, UK, 9-14 September 2003 pp 497-504
78. Turner SJ, Picton PD, Campbell JA (2003) Extraction of short-latency evoked potentials using a combination of wavelets and evolutionary algorithms Medical Engineering and Physics June Vol. 25 pp. 407-412.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1350-4533(03)00021-3
79. Terumichi Y, Kaczmarczyk S, Turner S, Yoshizawa M, Ostachowicz W (2003) Modelling, Simulation and Analysis Techniques in the Prediction of Non-stationary Vibration Response of Hoist Ropes in Lift Systems Materials Science Forums Vol. 440-441 pp 497-504
80. Turner SJ, Triastuti E, Crockett RGM, Picton PD, Crockett AC (2002) Intelligent Techniques for Detecting Estimated and Falsified Numerical Data Proc. 6th Conference of the Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics (SCI'2002) Orlando, Florida USA, July 14-18 2002 pp. 445-450, IIIS, Eds. Callaos N, Leng T, Sanchez B, ISBN 980-07-8150-1.
81. Crockett RGM, Crockett AC and Turner SJ (2001) 'Base-Number Correlation': a new technique for investigating digit preference and data heaping. Journal of History and Computing Vol. 13 No 2 pg 161-180 ISSN 0957-0144
82. Picton PD, Campbell JA, Turner SJ (2001) Modelling Chronic Pain: An Initial Survey 8th International Conference on Neural Information Processing Shanghai, China.
83. Turner SJ, Crockett RM, Picton PD, Triastuti E (2001) Genetic Algorithms for Simulating Counting Behaviour 19th Biennial Conference on Numerical Analysis Dundee.
84. Turner SJ, Picton PD, Campbell JA (2000) Use of Evolutionary Algorithms to Enhance the Extraction of Short Latency Evoked Potentials 4th Conference of the Systemics, Cybernetics, and Informatics (SCI'2000) Orlando, July 23-26 pp. 641-643.
85. Turner SJ, Picton PD, Campbell JA (1999) Selecting Filter Banks to Enhance Evoked Potentials Recordings Using Evolutionary Algorithms Eds. Poli R, Voigt HM, Cagnoli S, Corne D, Smith GD, Fogarty TC Evolutionary Image Analysis, Signal; Processing and Telecommunications May Lecture Notes Springer -Verlang 1596 pp 101-110. DOI: 10.1007/10704703_8
86. Campbell JA, Turner S, Picton P (1999) Filter selection for evoked potentials using genetic algorithm techniques Eds. Moglia A, Zappoli F, Sirabella G Atti del VII Meeting Invernale di Scienze Neurologiche 8-12 February pp 15-25.
87. Turner S, Campbell J, Picton P (1997) Improved Signal to noise ratio in somatosensory Evoked potentials 3rd Annual National Conference of the IPEM 2-4 September, Dundee pp.161.
88. Abel EW, Forster A, Farrow TL, Turner S (1994) Cepstral Analysis of the EMG Interference Pattern Extending the Spectrum: IPSM & BES 1st Joint Annual Scientific Conference 14-16 September, University of Keele pp. 159.

Thesis

1. Turner, S. J. (2000) Use of evolutionary algorithms to select filters for evoked potential enhancement. Doctoral thesis. University of Leicester.

Other roles

1. Turner, S. J. Editor. Enhancing the Learner Experience in Higher Education. Northampton: The University of Northampton. 2041-3122.
2. Turner, S. J. International Editorial Review Board Member. International Journal of Distributed Systems and Technologies (IJDST). Hershey: IGI Global. 1947-3532.
3. Turner, S. J. (2012) Editorial Board Member. ITALICS. York: Information and Computer Science Subject Centre of the Higher Education Academy. 1473-7507.
4. Turner SJ Programme Committee China-Europe International Symposium on Software Engineering Education
5. Turner SJ Chair of local organising committee 7th China - Europe International Symposium on Software Industry Oriented Education (CEISIE 2011)

Patents
    1.  Dobson PJ, Turner SJ (2001) Optical Glucose Detector Patent No. GB2328279 (B) ― 2001-10-10
     2.   Dobson PJ, Turner SJ (2002) Optical Glucose Detector Patent No US6466807 (B1) ― 2002-10-15


Monograph

1. Turner, S. J. (2011) Enhancing the sustainability of the East Midlands Knowledge Network: final report. JISC.
2. Turner, S. J. (2007) Development Fund project 2006-2007 progress report. Report submitted to the University of Northampton (Unpublished)
3. Turner, S. J. (2007) Innovative Teaching Development Fund project 2007 progress report. Report submitted to the University of Northampton (Unpublished)

Contact: scott.turner@northampton.ac.uk
Profile:http://www.northampton.ac.uk/people/scott.turner

ORCID reference: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2735-3220

Related

• Dr Ali Al-Sherbaz: Mobile
• Dr James Xue: distributed and cloud computing
• Dr Yinghui Zhang: haptics and virtual reality
• Gary Hill: solving problems
• Dr Suraj Ajit: Recent Publication

If you'd like to find out more about Computing at the University of Northampton go to: www.computing.northampton.ac.uk. All views and opinions are the author's and do not necessarily reflected those of any organisation they are associated with

Review of a Problems-First Approach to First Year Undergraduate Programming

Review of a Problems-First Approach to First Year Undergraduate Programming - Springer: 



Gary J. Hill   


Published in Software Engineering Education Going Agile Part of the series Progress in IS pp 73-80

DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-29166-6_11

This paper, predominantly discusses the teaching of programming and problem solving to undergraduate first year computing students, using robots/robot simulators and visual programming to emulate the robot tasks. The needs to focus initial programming education on problem solving, prior to the teaching of programming syntax and software design methodology is also considered. The main vehicle for this approach is a robot/robot simulation programmed in Java, followed by the programming of a visual representation/simulation to develop programming skills.



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If you'd like to find out more about Computing at the University of Northampton go to: www.computing.northampton.ac.uk. All views and opinions are the author's and do not necessarily reflected those of any organisation they are associated with