The presentation starts with a lighthearted look at societyʹs views on robots, Hollywoodʹs portrayal of them, the current state of the art, and the future of the technology. Philosophical questions about the nature of intelligence are discussed, as they pose serious problems for the creation of...

James McLurkinʹs teaching style can be summarized as follows:
ʺWhat can I bring to class that will be so interesting that they wonʹt even taste the science?ʺ

This classic technique of bait‐and‐switch teaching can be especially helpful when introducing technical concepts in science and...

This workshop covers more of McLurkinʹs lesson plans in detail, featuring hovercraft piloting lessons, and a hands‐on robot programming exercise. The focus of the workshop will be to develop Extreme Lesson Plans for as many of the participants as possible. Participants are encouraged to bring...

A lighthearted look at societyʹs views on robots, Hollywoodʹs portrayal of them, the current state of the art, and the future of the technology. Famous movie robots are used as examples of dream systems. Biological systems provide examples of “robotic” systems that we are just beginning to...

McLurkin’s unconventional approach to the creative design process is an inspiration to professionals of all disciplines. This presentation starts with examples from the far‐reaching passions that have shaped McLurkin’s career, including insects, LEGO, trains, and Star Wars. It continues with a...

Invention and Play often go hand‐in‐hand. During this presentation McLurkin takes the audience through an inside look at the kind of play that has shaped his inventiveness, from kindergarten to the present day.