A new didactic method for programming in C for freshmen students using LEGO mindstorms EV3

In this paper a new teaching-learning-method including the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 is presented. This computer sciences course is part of the studies of mechatronics in the first two semesters. The programming language being mediated is ANSI-C. Computer science is not the most popular subject in the interdisciplinary engineering field of mechatronics, therefore the EV3 should be included to increase motivation. For the new approach the former course - without the usage of EV3s - was evaluated and a competency profile was identified. On this basis a new didactical method was designed and implemented. The EV3 is programmed with the IDE Eclipse and with a self programmed plug-in.