Are robots smarter than humans? Will automated control systems eventually become clever enough to control us? In this course, students embark on a journey into the world of technology, engineering, algorithmic thinking and programming. They learn how to design, build, and program their own robots and clever control systems using LEGO EV3 Mindstorms and Arduino UNO.

In the course’s robotics segment, students delve into the capabilities of LEGO EV3 Mindstorms, a versatile robotics kit renowned for its ease of use. Through engaging activities and challenges, students learn to assemble robots, utilize sensors, and program behaviors using a Scratch 3-based programming environment tailored for EV3. They discover how to navigate obstacles, follow lines, and complete tasks, all while honing their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

In the course’s automation segment, students explore the world of electronics and clever control systems using Arduino UNO, a popular microcontroller platform. With Arduino, students learn to interface sensors, motors, and other peripherals, enabling them to automate processes and create clever control systems like an automated plant watering system or a home security system. Using a Scratch 3-based programming environment adapted for Arduino, students write code to control inputs and outputs, create responsive behaviors, and bring their projects to life.

By the end of the course, students emerge with a deeper understanding of robotics, automation, and programming, equipped with the skills and knowledge to tackle real-world challenges in the ever-evolving field of technology.

Learning Objectives

• Develop construction skills for building robots using LEGO technic pieces, including structural stability, gear mechanisms and attachment methods, and assimilate the basic features of the Arduino UNO board including digital and analog input/output pins, power supply options, and communication interfaces.
• Understand the use and different types of sensors (e.g. touch, color, ultrasonic, and gyro sensors) to gather and use sensor data to create responsive behaviors in robots, such as obstacle avoidance, line following, and object detection.
• Learn basic principles of electronics, including voltage, current, resistance, circuits, and components such as resistors, LEDs, and how to connect and use various sensors with Arduino boards, including temperature, light, motion sensors and ultrasonic sensors.
• Develop problem-solving skills to diagnose issues, troubleshoot hardware or software problems, and debug Arduino or robot projects effectively, utilizing the basic safety practices when working with electronics.

Almost 120 years ago (1896), the first film ever made was presented in a French café impressing the audience. From that time a new art was progressively formed through a variety of artistic movements, trends, and also scientific and technological achievements.

Film watching has been a favorite habit for billions of people around the world. But, why are so many people engaged by the stories presented on screen? What are the biological and psychological processes activated during film-watching? How have these processes evolved in humans? Do we all “see” the same story on screen? Furthermore, how is cinematic reality constructed? How do images and sounds interact to compose the cinematic world? What is the science behind visual and audio effects?

These are just some of the concepts to be investigated by the students in this course. As they develop a deep understanding of the principles of cinematic narration, students will also learn various scientific concepts as well as techniques related the film-making and film-watching processes.

Alfred Marshall described economics as “the study of mankind in the ordinary business of life.” How much are you willing to pay for ice cream on a hot summer day? Why professional athletes earn so much? Is there such a thing as a perfectly competitive market? Why has Google been accused of monopolistic practices?  Is Bitcoin a financial bubble or our future currency? Which are the key success factors for businesses in the modern economic era? What is a “start-up” company and how can it be financed?

The “world of economics and entrepreneurship” aims to answer these questions in a creative and exciting way; by investigating how various economic agents (households, firms and governments) make crucial decisions, students become familiar with the mechanisms that shape our current economic and business reality and therefore our society. During this course, students analyze basic economic and business concepts, such as supply and demand, scarcity of resources, cost of production, market structure, incentives, business strategy, innovation and more, and consider them in the context of today’s global economy.

Case studies and participation in the creation of a small “start-up” through a firm simulation game will provide useful insight into businesses organization, operations and decision-making. Upon completion of the course, students will acquire useful knowledge upon the basic functions of an economy and a business, becoming themselves responsible decision-makers in their everyday lives.