Mindstorms Made Easy: beginning lessons on programming in NXT-G Paperback – February 1, 2011

I have been teaching NXT Robotics for four years now. I had been using the Robotics Engineering Programs I and II from Carnegie-Melon, but I had to switch since I have younger students this year. They did not have the attention span, or aptitude for it- they are mostly 9yrs. We meet for one hour every week, so we don't have time to touch the STEM portion. This book is just what I have been looking for. The instructions are written out and explained, and there are screen shots for each step. The 5 minute bot it uses, doesn't take several classes to build, and its functional for all our purposes and every sensor can be attached easily. The book has a license to copy for one school, so the price is a bargain. The projects are quick and to the point, teaching gradual logical steps. I would highly recommend this for those with a limited time frame, like I have, or for younger students. Thats not to say that it isn't interesting for older students ages 10-14, they would just get through it quicker. There is a CD from this company which I really like, and include many different designs which are ranked by difficulty or program complexity. I plan on using it to fill out the year, and with the older students that will finish the Robotics Engineering Programs II. The cost for the CD is a reduced rate for 10 or more, since you will need one per computer.

I teach Mindstorms in the summer and have looked through a LOT of books to help me teach kids in a methodical fashion how to learn to program. This is, BY FAR, the best. I hope he sells a ton of them.

Not quite what I was looking for to use with the kid I mentor. It will probably work for some but I'm still looking for the right book for us.

The author goes directly to the heart of the matter. Programming is presented in easy step by step format. It's ideal for real beginners.