Robotics & Systems/NuiBot/Teacher Guide
Teacher Guide
Before term
Count and check kits
Bricks, 2 large motors, 1 medium motor, touch, colour, ultrasonic, gyro per kit; charge batteries.
Choose the software route
Recommended: Pybricks v4 firmware flashed over USB from the browser (beta). Fallback: LEGO EV3 MicroPython v2 on a microSD card. Test both on one brick with your school's Chromebooks or laptops first.
Flash firmware
One brick at a time over USB; label each brick with its name and route.
Restore if needed
Pybricks can be removed and the original LEGO firmware restored.
Print or display build instructions
LEGO Driving Base PDF plus Kōkiri modules.
Photos
If the studio's component photos differ from your kit version, take your own.
Phone deck (optional)
School-owned devices only; check Wi-Fi or Bluetooth route with IT.
Safety
Clear floor space. Speed limits are built into generated code. The centre button stops every program. Grippers are geared down. No loose lithium batteries. The teacher checks any expansion wiring. Phones are strapped in.
Running a session
Start with a prediction, end with a comparison. Keep the "explain a line" question honest: if a pair can't answer, they read the code together before running it.
If your class is in the PhD study
Use research mode. No photos or video of students: photos of robots and builds only. The phone companion is only switched on after the school and supervisors have agreed its privacy settings. Robot data that becomes inquiry evidence is Kōkiri Lab data.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Try |
|---|---|
| Brick not detected over USB | Different cable or port; reboot the brick; try a Chromebook if a Mac fails. |
| Robot drives in a curve | Check wheel diameter and axle track numbers; check tyres are seated. |
| "No device on port" error | Cable loose or wrong port in the cards. |
| Line follower wobbles | Lower the steer gain, slow down, recalibrate black and white. |
| Gyro drifts | Keep the robot still for one second after starting. |
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