Teaching C/C++ Programming with Lego Mindstorms

Computer programming is a skill required in many professions, not just computer science. Lego Mindstorms NXT can be incorporated into a programming course to add hands-on interactivity that will better engage a broader range of students. Chosing the most suitable programming language is difficult, and this paper summarizes some experiences in teaching students using RoboLab and NXT-G for Mindstorms NXT. The text-based language RobotC is recommended for beginner and intermediate level courses, and various code examples are provided to assist teachers in building lesson plans. It is suggested that advanced programming should be taught in C++, and an example of using the NXT++ library to control a robot arm is presented. Teaching all levels of programming, using robotics, is more enticing and stimulating for students, and teachers can justify the purchase of expensive robot hardware by employing it in multiple areas of the school curriculum.