Carnegie Mellon University

virtual curriculum on computer screen

March 23, 2021

CMRA Develops Virtual Robotic Curriculum for Online Learning

Aaron Aupperlee

The Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy (CMRA) has developed a new Introduction to Programming course centered around the Virtual LEGO EV3, which enhances their highly successful online learning capabilities. Previously, students needed access to a LEGO MINDSTORM EV3 platform to complete the course. Now, with the new course, both students and teachers can follow step-by-step programming lessons plans from the comfort of their own home. In addition to the online capabilities, students can also follow along on physical LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 hardware and transition between them freely.

As with all other courses on CS2N.org, all lessons are self-contained, giving students the opportunity to freely navigate within them and allowing minimal instructor supervision. As students make their way through the platform, CMRA’s CS2N Learning Management System ensures that they are prompted with corresponding instructions and challenges. Once completed, all of these lessons and activities are repeatable and can be run as many times as needed, allowing students to back track if needed.

Once they have their license, teachers and students can login and follow the curriculum from anywhere, just as long as they are connected to the internet!

This is an important step for our CS2N.org platform to continue to provide a full suite of robotics and STEM courses during the Pandemic and in post-pandemic learning.