"Using Robotics as a Learning Tool"

12/03/04: 10:30 AM
11th Floor Large Conference Room
Host: Patrick Pantel, schedule

Abstract: Robotics was one a prohibitively expensive research area requiring years to achieve results. As simple robotics equipment becomes more affordable, their application areas are increasing. One area of interest is education at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. In this talk I will discuss the benefits and challenges I have discovered while trying to maintain a low-cost, novice-friendly robotics learning environment at Cal State University Long Beach. I will also discuss opportunities for anyone who would like to get involved with outreach for local high school and middle school students through the Botball program.(www.botball.org).

About Colleen van Lent: Dr. Colleen van Lent received her BS in computer science from Kent State University in 1992 and her PhD from University of Pittsburgh in 2002. At Pittsburgh she was part of the Nursebot project, a robotic assistant for the elderly. Her doctoral work as was in the use of planning techniques to develop a cognitive orthotic onboard the robotic platform. She now serves as an Assistant Professor in the Computer Engineering and Computer Science Department at California State University Long Beach, where she teaches introductory programming courses and undergraduate and graduate courses in artificial intelligence.

Last updated: Mon Jun 19 17:44:06 2006