Edison 2 - 'Build a bridge and get over it'.

A makeshift bridge created with rulers.

Challenge: For students to build a 'bridge' over three A4 sheets of card.  Students were able to use books, rulers and other objects within the classroom to complete the task.  They needed to start the Edison on one side of the 'river' and have it move to the other side of the river successfully.  Students were not able to construct in the 'river'.
Level: This task was completed by Y5/6 class of students 10 and 11 year olds.  The timeframe was thirty minutes from start to finish.  We allowed a five minute 'show' time when groups who were making progress towards the task showed evidence to the others in the class.
Notes: The initial start the students had the Edison in 'avoid obstacle' mode, this meant that the control of the Edison was somewhat difficult.  Most of the groups identified the need to switch the Edison to the 'clap controlled driving mode' which allowed them more control of the Edison along the 'bridge'.   One group opted to use the 'line tracking' bar code which they created by making their own tracking line with black vivid.   This was moderately successful because the line was inconsistent.   Several other groups attempted to create a 'channel' of books to have the robot bounce off.  'Clap controlled' driving was by far and away the most successful of the groups to complete the task.  Some of the groups used masking tape to apply it to the rulers and books to stabilize them as the Edison moved over them