Introduction to Engineering with V5 Training Courses
How can you start learning or teaching engineering with VEX? This is a question I often hear from teachers at educational events like the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) or the Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC). They want to better understand engineering so they can teach it to their students. While engineering is a vast field, the VEX V5 system makes it approachable and enjoyable to learn. This article will guide you through that learning process, so you're ready to inspire your students or competition team members with hands-on robotics projects.
To get started engineering with V5, you can follow these steps to facilitate your learning.
- Take the Engineering with VEX V5 Training Course
- Take the Introduction to VEX V5 Training Course
- Learn more about different mechanisms in the VEX Library
- Continue your learning with the VEX PD+ Community and 1-on-1 Sessions
1. Engineering 101 for VEX V5 Training Course
The Engineering 101 for VEX V5 Training Course is an excellent starting point in your engineering journey. As the name suggests, this course provides a fundamental understanding of engineering concepts within the context of the VEX V5 system.
Each lesson in this course focuses on a different V5 component or concept. By breaking down the VEX V5 system into its individual elements, learners gain a deep understanding of how each component works and interacts within the broader system. This not only facilitates learning about the engineering principles behind the V5 system but also sparks creativity and innovation for how those pieces can be used in a build. The course’s interactive nature allows learners to see the components in action, thus enhancing the understanding of their uses and functionality within the V5 system.
2. Introduction to VEX V5 Training Course
After familiarizing yourself with the VEX V5 system through the Engineering 101 for VEX V5 Training Course, the next exciting stage in your engineering journey awaits you: the Introduction to VEX V5 Training Course. This course will be your guide to assembling and operating your very first robot using the VEX V5 system.
By following the video-based walkthroughs, you will be able to construct your first VEX V5 robot. After assembling this robot, you'll be able to understand how the parts in the Engineering with VEX V5 Training Course collaborate to make a functioning robot.
Aside from assembly, this course offers insight into the controls of a VEX V5 robot. Each robot built with the VEX V5 system can be manipulated with a Controller or through coding the Brain in VEXcode V5. This part of the course will guide you through these interfaces, familiarizing you with the controls and their corresponding functions.
3. Articles in the VEX Library
Now that you have learned about the components of the VEX V5 system and built your first robot, you may be interested in beginning to design your own robot and different mechanisms for your robot. The VEX Library includes many articles to help you through the process from choosing a drivetrain to determining what kind of manipulator you want to create. These articles provide examples of different builds using the VEX V5 system alongside explanations for why you might want to use that particular mechanism in your build. All different types of articles are available. Some examples include:
4. PD+ Community and 1-on-1 Sessions
Looking for more specific mechanisms or design ideas? Post in the VEX PD+ Community! The Community is a great place to communicate with people across the globe and gain inspiration for your classroom.
You can also schedule a 1-on-1 Session with a VEX Expert to brainstorm additional ideas or have a deeper discussion about a particular engineering concept.
Final Thoughts
The VEX V5 Training Courses shared here provide a foundation for learning engineering through robotics. By starting with an introduction to the VEX V5 system then moving onto building your own robot and finally beginning to use different mechanisms to design your own robot, you have the opportunity to learn and share many different ideas and concepts with your students.