Abstract
The University of Iowa’s Robot Theater Project teaches computational thinking and promotes STEM education in the context of the performing arts. Students write scripts and program robots to give live performances on stage; over the past 5 years we have taught 122 students to program robots, and our robots have performed in front of several thousand students, teachers, and parents. In this experience report, we introduce the project, describe the framework used to coordinate the behavior of multiple robots in a scene, and discuss the challenges with live performances involving robot actors from different manufacturers. We also describe an initiative to develop performances that explore human experiences and behavior, where the content of these performances centers on material related to diversity and representation.
Using Storytelling and Robot Theater to Develop Computational Thinking
The University of Iowa’s Robot Theater Project teaches computational thinking and promotes STEM education in the context of the performing arts. Students write scripts and program robots to give live performances on stage; over the past 5 years we have taught 122 students to program robots, and our robots have performed in front of several thousand students, teachers, and parents. In this experience report, we introduce the project, describe the framework used to coordinate the behavior of multiple robots in a scene, and discuss the challenges with live performances involving robot actors from different manufacturers. We also describe an initiative to develop performances that explore human experiences and behavior, where the content of these performances centers on material related to diversity and representation.