I chose a robotic curriculum project because of my interest in integrated curriculum and project-based learning.  Robotics instruction is a blend of physical science, mathematics, structural engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, electronics, electrical engineering, computer hardware, software applications, programming, strategy, project planning, economics, and art.  It would also be easy to add other curriculum areas to robotics, such as biomechanics, science history, literature, marketing, sports, and so on.

As a former engineer, I felt that I would be a good choice to teach high school robotics.  The challenges faced were many, and are summarized in "A General Procedure for Adding a Course to the High School Curriculum", a flow chart that I developed after an interview with Joyce Wahl, Assistant Principal at Corvallis High School.  Some of the requirements were not difficult for my location.  This included having the personnel (me) and having the facilities (a mostly unused auto shop and a classroom being set up for electronics instruction).  Defining the course (what it covers, who could be in the class, etc.) would be necessary, but this would not have been a major problem.  I saw as the biggest obstacles demand  and funding.

In the end, funding became limiting factor.  As a new course, there was no hope due to the current Oregon public education financial crisis.  The funding provided (as of the end of the Legislative Session) was pitifully inadequate.  Adding robotics to my existing Electrical/Mechanical Systems class became problematic when enrollment limitations for elective courses were announced.  When an FTE reduction in my department was announced, my job as a teacher all but disappeared.  As of June 3, 2002, I have at most one course to teach for the entire 2002-2003 school year.  If I don't pick up new courses (I'm competing with other displaced teachers), I'll need to look for other opportunities for the  2002-2003 school year.

September 2001
Begin ED506, an Oregon State University graduate projects course. Selected as a subject: "Adding Robotics to the High School Curriculum".

October 2001
Was notified that Corvallis High School and 7 other Oregon high schools will receive $10,000 grants from NASA to enter the FIRST robotics competition. The grant is administered by the Nuclear Engineering Department at Oregon State University.

November 2001
Scope of original project proposal begins to change, blending previous project ideas with the FIRST Project.

December 8, 2001
Submitted preliminary report for "Adding Robotics to the High School Curriculum"

December 17, 2001
The Oregon FIRST Robotics Rally (organized by me) is held at Corvallis High School. Attendance was about 120 representing 6 schools.

January 5-7, 2002
Travel to San Jose to attend the FIRST Kickoff Event, and pick up robot parts kits for 4 Oregon schools.

January 2002
School funding reductions eliminate chance for a new robotic course at Corvallis High School for 2002-2003. Changed the name of the Electrical/Mechanical Systems class to be Electrical/Mechanical/Robotics with the intent of adding robotics instruction into an existing class.

January 7 to February 19, 2002
Official FIRST robotics construction period.  Corvallis HS robotics team website is built as a student project.

March 2002
Corvallis High School announces that elective courses for 2002-2003 must have at least 25 students enrolled. Maximum credits enrolled in per school year is reduced from 16 to 14.  All students must have at least one unscheduled block during the  year.

March 28-30, 2002
Corvallis High School robotics team attends the FIRST Pacific NW Regional at the University of Washington in Seattle.  Made directions page for parents and students.

April 2002
Poll of Oregon’s FIRST teachers an mentors started. Click here to see the Questionnaire.  Click here to see the Results.

April 25-27, 2002
National FIRST competition held in Orlando, FL at EPCOT Center. Two Oregon schools attend.

May 1, 2002
With about 90% of Corvallis High School students preregistered, enrollment in Electrical/Mechanical/Robotics is at 19 students, creating doubt if the course will be offered at all.

May 7, 2002
Corvallis HS demonstrates it’s robot at the OSU Engineering Expo.

May 9, 2002
Questionnaire result notification is sent to participants.  Click here to see the Results.

May 10, 2002
Corvallis HS announces that the Technology Education courses offered will be reduced from 9 (2001-2002) to 7 (2002-2003).  Teacher FTE (full time equivalents) are reduced from 1.5 to 1.167.  The Electrical/Mechanical/Robotics course enrollment of 22 does not meet the required enrollment (25) to be offered as a course.  I apply to teach courses outside of the Technology Education department to try to keep my job.  Click here to see the announcement.

June 3, 2002
Received verbal notice that the additional classes I applied for are not available, and even my single remaining course is not certain.

June 2002
Final ED506 project report to be submitted.

Summer 2002
Corvallis HS is invited to demonstrate its robot on 4 dates for a traveling Smithsonian Institution event.

July 2002
Corvallis HS is invited to demonstrate its robot at Corvallis da Vinci Days.