Modules

=Current Modules=


 * LEGO Mindstorms**
 * PHOTOVOLTAICS**
 * CNC mill**
 * 3D Scanner**
 * RFID**
 * Arduino**
 * Underwater ROV**
 * iRobot**
 * Programming**
 * TableIT - Assistive Technology Device for Children With Autism**

=On Hold-Modules=
 * see Equipment Inventory to get ideas for new modules!

Astronaut Robot Mission Simulators
=Proposed Modules=
 * Chess**

Binary Systems
Vacuum Bagging

=How to Create a Module= toc

Everyone is encouraged to utilize any available resources to find answers to any question, no matter how complex. It is best to start out small, progressively diving deeper into the problem until a solution can be found. The idea for a module is for one to document their search from beginning to end so others can follow and collaborate. Here is an excerpt from [|GOOD] on how to teach yourself online, a method similar to how one would begin developing a module.

"There are [|plenty of open resources] on the Internet to allow for college-level learning on almost any topic. But figuring out how to dive in can be daunting. If you want to read a textbook, answer the questions at the end of each chapter, and take a sample test, you can certainly simulate that kind of traditional classroom-based learning online, but there are many other possibilities.

Here’s one method, distilled from the stories of many different edupunks I talked to: 1. Start with a question. “What does the Federal Reserve do, anyway?” “How does a wind turbine work?” You may turn first to video sites like [|YouTube] or [|TED] for an overview. 2. Zero in on unfamiliar words, phrases, symbols or expressions: “Bayesian analysis,” “Fourier transform." [|Wikipedia], [|Scholarpedia] or [|Wikiversity] might be good places to start, but you’ll want to follow the links from there to source materials, papers, textbooks, book excerpts on Google, and others. 3. Do some serious reading. You may have several tabs open at this point. This phase can last hours or days. 4. Ask someone else for help. Depending on what you’re studying, you may want to locate some experts on the topic. Or you can search forums or other online learning communities for help. 5. Test and demonstrate your knowledge. [|MIT Open Courseware], [|Khan Academy], and other sites may have sample problems. Or you can go onto a forum and answer someone else’s question. Or blog about your discoveries!

**Sites for Open Social Learning**
Lots of research shows the importance of study in groups for motivation, encouragement, and diving deeper into learning. You can use these sites for live learning in groups or to see if anyone before you has asked and answered a similar question, which is a great way to get started learning something. [|OpenStudy]: There’s a large and robust community on this site, and helpful answers were almost instant. The answers and groups are organized around topics, which can be hard to find or hard to understand sometimes. It might be a g ood idea to form your own group if you have a topic of interest that’s not represented here. [|Quora]: A good place for long philosophical discussions, but a bit harder to search. [|Twitter]: Twitter is one of the best places to build a learning community online. But it takes time to build, to find the right people to follow and talk to—it’s not an instant fix. [|Wikianswers] and [|Yahoo! Answers]: These two sites are more superficial, though helpful for some practical queries."

The Educational Initiatives page also contains many sources that may aid in creating a module. =Motivational Material=

Richard Hamming: You and Your Research
Richard gives a motivating talk about how to best define and accomplish your goals in an academic setting.

media type="youtube" key="YQ3b7DbtRxA" width="425" height="350"

This is just part 1 of 3. If you wish to see the rest of the videos click [|here].

There is also a .pdf version of the talk which may be more understandable, and may be quicker than watching the videos.