<div dir="ltr">John, <div><br></div><div>I have worked with the Lego Mindstorm before and it is an excellent option for students in years 5 - 7. Anything past that, I find that students start to loose interest in it. If you already have some and you're working with younger students i would use it. The Lego programming software is pretty clunky so I would also consider upgrading the firmware to robot-c for lego. </div><div><br></div><div>If you are buying new robots I would look into VEX the IQ platform for younger students, it is much more versatile than the lego and there are multiple programming options. For year 8 - 12 students I would use VEX EDR if you want to use a kit. </div><div><br></div><div>I have also had great success with First Robotics and Arduino. First robotics stuff can get very expensive, but you can build some very cool robots. Arduino bots can be done for cheap but you will have to do a lot more trouble shooting. If you are interested DATTA Vic is going to release my $15 Arduino robot plans to their website in the next few months. </div><div><br></div><div>Travis Burroughs </div><div>Camberwell High School </div><div>DATTA Victoria Treasurer/Robotics Coordinator</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Nov 15, 2016 at 1:07 PM, Louk, John W <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:louk.john.w@edumail.vic.gov.au" target="_blank">louk.john.w@edumail.vic.gov.au</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Hi everybody,<br>
<br>
Thanks for your replies. You gave me a lot to research.<br>
<br>
With regard to robotics, no one has mentioned Lego mindstorm? Does anyone use it, my school is very keen to head that way. They currently have some very old kits, I think nxt which used serial connections and the software was compatible with windows vista. So they are looking at EV3.<br>
<br>
Thoughts, ideas, is VEX better?<br>
<br>
Cheers<br>
<br>
Wayne Louk=<br>
IMPORTANT - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education and Training.<br>
<br>
<br>
______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>
<a href="http://www.edulists.com.au" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.edulists.com.au</a> - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe<br>
Design and Technology Mailing List kindly supported by<br>
<a href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/designtech/destechindex.html" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/<wbr>vce/studies/designtech/<wbr>destechindex.html</a> - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and<br>
DATTA Vic - Design and Technology Teachers' Association of Victoria<br>
</blockquote></div><br></div>