Coding Robots for Creative Expression
When I say "robot," what image comes to mind?
Take a moment to picture a robot and what it's doing.
Is it assembling parts in a factory? Perhaps it's vacuuming floors or delivering packages? Maybe it's even performing surgery or exploring Mars?
If you imagined a robot engaged in a task focused on efficiency, precision, or problem-solving, you're not alone. The vast majority of people envision robots solving problems. They think of robots as machines designed to make our lives easier by taking on repetitive, dangerous, or complex tasks.
Few people envision robots who can dance, create art, or express emotions? But robots today are being used for creative expression. Check out this robot dancer and robot artist.
By tweaking the prompts we use to introduce computer science to include creative computing challenges, we can engage a broader and more inclusive audience with computer science education.
When we integrate creative expression into computer science education, we not only teach technical skills but also foster innovation, artistic thinking, and cross-disciplinary connections. This is one of the reasons I fell in love with the Finch Robot,
If you are an educator looking to bring creativity to computer science, let me introduce you to the Finch Robot.
The Finch Robot was developed at Carnegie Mellon University's CREATE Lab, specifically ...