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Introduction to Robot C and the VEX Platform

Recommended Classroom Hours: 4-6

Assessments: Available with Teacher PD

Teacher PD Flyer - Digital Technologies Curriculum Links

Why Vex Robotics?

VEX Robotics is the ultimate robotics platform for the 7-10 Digital Technologies Curriculum. VEX has text based coding in the most universal programming language: "C'. It also has a capacity for data management and analysis and finally, VEX has a capacity to use coding and robotics to solve real world problems.

What is special about this course?

After eight lessons, students complete several quite advanced examples of INPUT / OUTPUT programming whereby they control the speed and the direction of a motor by bringing their hand closer to and further from a distance sensor. This task is broken down into the simplest possible steps; in each step students add two to three lines of code, experiment with changing variables and observing the output of the robot. This ensures that they understand not only what each line of code does, but how it does it and what will happen when it changes.

What are the requirements?

  • Students need to have a Windows computer or a virtual Windows app running on a Mac
  • Your school needs to purchase one VEX programming KIT per 3 students

What are the student outcomes?

  • They will understand and apply motor control commands
  • They will understand and apply IF and IF-ELSE statements which rely on sensor input to decide on motor output
  • They will write loops and forever loops which have the robot constantly checking sensor inputs
  • They will learn about best practices in formatting code and using indentation
  • They will create variables which store data such as sensor values.
  • They will use variable which stores distance to an obstacle. This variable then serves as a motor input which will drive the motor by placing ones hand closer to and further from the sensor


Your Instructor


Sanjin Dedic
Sanjin Dedic

Sanjin combines his passion for teaching and education with an in-depth understanding of a vast array of technologies. He graduated in 2007 from The Australian National University, majoring in Robotics and Computer Vision. He has a unique ability to adapt various engineering concepts into hands on classroom activities and teach everything from Scratch, Python, Arduino to Raspberry Pi to very young audiences. His role with Techxellent centres around doing this on a larger scale in an easy to follow ‘progression model’ which imbues students with a new mindset required for innovation and analytical thinking. In 2016 his goal is to raise the bar in student engagement with programming and robotics by enabling students to communicate with computers much like they do with their friends— using facial expressions and hand gestures.


Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.

Get started now!