A story about how to use LEGO EV3 in more ways than just a robotics class. This discusses how to use EV3 in the science classroom at the middle school level.

1. The Result
Implementing the Science Activity Pack has been a great
fit for Bettendorf Middle School. Maurer envisions the
Science Activity Pack being used in both the science class
and the robotics class. “If we could have the students build
their models in robotics class and experiment in science,
that would be the ideal situation,” Maurer said. “If that
wouldn’t work, we could develop a workstation approach
where we would have six models of each unit built and
on display in our project rooms. Students would take time
going through each station.”
Using this new software with the EV3 hardware opens
up a new, effective way for Maurer to teach. “Having the
lessons, the building, as well as a place for the students to
record all their data in one location is awesome,” explains
Maurer. “Any tool or resource is only as good as the
teacher. If a teacher is willing to use this product in a way
that enhances the learning, then it is a success. If done
properly it can enhance teaching because it opens up
multiple pathways for learning and experimentation.”
The Need
After receiving more than 130 EV3 kits, the teachers at
Bettendorf Middle School created a new robotics class
and spent most of the year getting this class developed.
With the robotics class now in full swing, Aaron Maurer has
been helping to figure out how to extend EV3 beyond the
robotics class and into the core classes. More specifically,
he has been looking for ways to implement EV3 into the
eighth-grade science curriculum.
The Solution
Because the school was already using EV3, investing in
the Science Activity Pack was an ideal solution for their
intention to integrate EV3 into the science classroom. In
order to determine if this curriculum would be a good fit
for his school, Maurer had a small group of his students in
fifth through eighth grades build the models in the Science
Activity Pack and test the curriculum. “What we found was
that the building would not be overly difficult. Students
really liked the lessons. They found the content and
concepts interesting. The hands-on piece is the biggest
seller. It is easy to manipulate LEGO pieces to design new
experiments from the basic lesson,” Maurer explained.
ExpandingroboticsintothescienceclassroomusingEV3
BettendorfMiddleSchoolexperimentswithEV3outsideoftheroboticsclassroom
About the Teacher:
• Teacher: Aaron Maurer, gifted education teacher,
FIRST®
LEGO®
League (FLL®
) coach, LEGO
Education Advisory Panel (LEAP) teacher
• School: Bettendorf Middle School, Bettendorf, IA
• Using LEGO®
solutions for 5 years
• LEGO Education classroom solutions:
EV3 Middle School Science Activity Pack
With us having a robotics class, the Science
Activity Pack really opens their eyes to new
ways of building and using the robots.
Aaron Maurer
Gifted Education Teacher