Back to school time is crucial for educators, especially those who may want to try something new in their classrooms this year. They might not realize, however, that the few weeks leading up to the first day are also just as crucial. Okay, most of them probably do since they’re scrambling to create lesson plans, set up their classrooms, and squeeze a whole bunch of other stuff in before the first day. In some parts of the country, school has already started, but for those who go back right before or right after Labor Day, there’s still some time to do some EdTech research and discover some new tech tools to potentially bring into the classroom for the new year!
Google Expeditions VR Kits
We understand that there will be plenty of teachers who feel that incorporating virtual reality into the classroom is problematic, expensive, and irrelevant to helping students learn. The fact is, however, that it can be the opposite of all of those things. Virtual reality—though admittedly it’s probably not for everyone—is a very effective learning tool. It can transport students to places they otherwise would not be able to ever see and provide them with unbelievable insight into many different worlds. There are simple VR devices, like the View-Master or Samsung Gear VR and there are more advanced systems, like Google Expeditions and others. Google Expeditions is great because it comes with easily accessible lesson plans and adventures that teachers can use to create interactive learning with hardly any hassle!
Built specifically for classroom settings, the Google Expeditions VR kits present a ton of profitable opportunities for children in any grade, subject, and learning environment! Complete with up to 30 VR viewers, 30 Magellan Devices, a wireless router, and teacher tablet, these kits unlock incredibly immersive learning experiences. The best part is students can connect to the eye-popping virtual content locally, enjoying guided explorations in VR using a headset, tablet, and kid-friendly software. With educational implementation at the forefront, Google Expeditions includes 500 different adventures for teachers to lead, including plenty of opportunities for addressing key points with super simple prompts. Learning with virtual reality has never been so easy—or so real.
In terms of both hardware and software, the Google Expeditions packs are complete, all-in-one solutions. The different devices that come in the kit can be connected over the same Wi-Fi network to support a classroom full of students and kids can download expeditions to run without the need for an Internet connection. Each expedition is fitted with a curated set of amazingly vivid VR imagery and ready to revamp learning with the download of the Expeditions app. To support Google Expeditions, paired devices require a gyroscope and accelerometer and 1 GB of RAM. Supported devices include Android 4.4 or later and iOS 8.0 and later. Also needed are a graphics processing unit that can support 3D viewing, a high-resolution screen (720p or 1080p), and 2.4 or 5 GHz of Wi-Fi support. Visit our store and add some innovative virtual options to your teaching for the new school year!
NAO Robot V6
The NAO Robot has been around for a while (as you may have guessed since this is the sixth version). It has been used in different levels of education—from junior high school up through college—to teach students various skills needed for a career in programming. Perhaps more importantly, it’s a very effective tool for reaching students with learning differences and Autism, specifically. The calming presence NAO provides with its friendly face and soft voice help Autistic children to become comfortable with technology while also learning some key 21st century skills. It’s no doubt the smartest robot around and, thanks to a number of updates to the new version, it looks poised to hold this reputation for some time. In the classroom, NAO can enhance STEM experiences and extend coding education all while using a bunch of pre-programmed functions and artificial intelligence that’s off the charts!
The sixth generation was created to enable unique human-robot interaction. It’s the most advanced humanoid in both educational and workforce environments and its applications for teaching coding and programming are endless! In the classroom, the V6 is viable in a number of ways—from teaching coding and programming to bringing literature to life, enhancing special education, and allowing for interactive training simulations. NAO’s advanced development platform provides chances for kids to sharpen their concentration, encourage STEM creativity, learn programming, boost problem-solving skills, promote inclusivity, and unlock barrier-free communication. Plus, its efficient educational solutions also include an intuitive programming interface, options for remote learning, and various ready-to-use applications that make it 100 percent accessible!
With numerous upgrades, the NAO V6 is outfitted with the absolute latest in robotics technology. Its motherboard boasts 4 GB of RAM, a Quad Core CPU, and 32 GB of SSD HD while its on-board camera includes autofocus, a 68.2 DFOV field of view, and 30 CM-infinity focus range. The V6 also includes improved audio functions, including omnidirectional microphones and a loudspeaker as well as new motors with a lifetime improvement. With a faster boot time of 51 seconds, system upgrade time of under five minutes, Wi-Fi that’s up to 10 times better than the V5, and Ethernet performance four times faster than the V5, this new model is poised to perfect robotics in any classroom! Speaking of faster, the V6’s CPU is twice as effective as the V5 and its RAM is five times more effective than the V5! Plus, its read speed is 16 times faster than the V5 and write speed is 35 times faster. To buy a new NAO from our store, head on over!
HTC Vive Pro
If any educators are looking to get more exposure to virtual reality this Back to School season, we have a nice, new suggestion for you. The HTC Vive Pro Kit has recently been added to our store and it’s a great way to bring VR into the classroom without spending a ton of money or worrying about where to place a larger system. The Vive Pro offers all of the high-end graphics and immersion that the traditional HTC Vive system does but costs about half as much and takes up way less space. It even comes with built-in audio, a built-in microphone, and the SteamVR and Viveport platforms, making VR integration in the classroom as easy as possible!
The Vive Pro headset includes incredible educational innovations in a compact and affordable package. Leading the way among those impressive innovations are enhanced graphics, real-life movement, and immersive audio. The super-rich colors and display provide unbelievably sharp details while the Pro’s 360-degree controller and headset tracking covers movements down to the millimeter from the floor to the ceiling. Its sound capabilities allow students to truly feel sound rather than just hear it as they navigate previously unreachable terrains, scenes, and environments in their seated or standing playspace as big as 20 X 20 feet. Plus, the Vive Pro glasses come with a 6-month trial of the HTC Viveport subscription and chaperone technology so educators can monitor the VR content students consume.
The Vive Pro truly serves as VR for everyone, creating unprecedented presence with high-resolution graphics and 3D spatial audio. Both the headset and cable are uniquely easy to use and students are always free to move around thanks to the VIVE Wireless Adapter. Teachers can tailor classroom content related to curricular topics and explore tons of useful resources on both SteamVR and Viveport. To use the Vive Pro in the classroom, technical requirements include an Nvidia GTX 1060/AMD Radeon RX 480 equivalent or greater, an Intel Core i5-4590 equivalent or greater, four or more GB of RAM, a DisplayPort v1.2, a USB-A 3.1 port, and Windows 8 or 8.1. For the room-scale technology to be effective, students need a minimum area of 2 meters by 1.5 meters and the maximum area that can be used is 6 meters by 6 meters. Get one on the Eduporium store!
Cue STEAM Pack
At Eduporium, we love the idea of combining different areas of STEM or STEAM education—especially when this can be done using one technology tool. Wonder Workshop has recently released a new addition to their line, known as the Sketch Kit. Basically, the kit comes with an attachment that secures to either the Dash or Cue Robots and features a small hole for a marker to slide through. Kids then create programs on one of Wonder Workshop’s apps and the robot will draw out exactly what they tell it to create! If you ask us, this is an incredible way to combine STEM and STEAM with a little bit of programming and a little bit of artistry.
There are a few sketching add-ons available, including markers, marker harnesses, and whiteboards, but, if you go with the Cue STEAM Pack, you get all that—and enough for a whole class! The STEAM Pack comes with six Cue Robots, six marker harnesses, 72 dry erase markers, three whiteboard mats, three erasers, and six sets of project cards. Using the Cue, kids can chat, code, and create a fully customized robot that’s entirely their own. Designed to increase coding exposure for kids aged 11 and up, the Cue develops new abilities the more it’s used and its newly updated software enables interactive communication unlike any other robot kids have ever seen! Now, they can add another wrinkle to programming by incorporating some more creative expression and developing new works of art!
The Cue is powered by emotive AI and is smart enough to communicate with students both verbally and through text messaging. It’s packed with more memory, improved sensors, upgraded processors, and advanced Bluetooth capabilities, making the Cue a more complete robot than previous models. It uses three proximity sensors to maintain constant awareness of its environment. They are joined by two powered wheels and encoders, IR robot interaction, dual motors, three microphones, real-time Bluetooth, and a speaker inside its compact frame. And, now, the Cue is made better with the simple attachment of the marker harness to its frame. Just download the Cue app on a compatible iOS or Android device and kids can control its movements, create behaviors, and code exciting interactions!
DJI Drones
Our store isn’t limited to ground-dwelling technologies as we’ve included everything innovative educators and students need to enjoy true 21st century learning. These days, that includes drones. Drones, along with tools like 3D printers, robotics, and virtual reality, are among some of most innovative technologies currently on the market—especially when it comes to education. Learning with drones offers students a ton of opportunities as the technology gets more advanced. Not only are they able to get comfortable with how drones work, what it takes to control them, and learning how to fly, they’re discovering that drones can be controlled through programming, they can be used to take photos and videos, and they can be engineered from scratch!
If you keep up with the latest developments from the world of drones (what do you mean you don’t?), you’ve probably heard of a company called DJI at some point recently. They’ve been making a splash in the world of unmanned aerial vehicles and for good reason. Their product line includes a number of impressive drones that range from simple to complex. They’ve also created a few different accessories, which are available on our store as well. They have an OSMO attachment, a gimbal and camera attachment, and their own set of high-resolution goggles, which allow students to simulate flights and gain the point of view their drone would have! It’s a great twist on the popularity of virtual reality as it adds the inclusion of experiencing a drone’s flight path!
As far as their drones, we have four options on our store, ranging in price from $400 to $1,500. The SPARK is the cheapest and smallest one of the bunch, coming in with a 16-minute flight time and a number of other capabilities. It has a built-in camera for video and photo recording, gimbal stabilization, and three intelligent flight modes, making it a solid option for students just getting started with aviation. The Phantom 4 Pro is the most expensive of the group, but also the most powerful. It can fly for up to 30 minutes and has noise reduction and obstacle sensing features. It also works with the DJI goggles and provides pilots with a quieter flying experience! To add any of the DJI drones or accessories to your teaching toolbox, head to the Drones section of our store to shop!
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