Some of the most popular paths and effective approaches to preparing students for their future involve using robotics tools. A significant subsection of STEM education, coding robots and other types of programmable devices enable a large percentage of the STEAM learning that occurs in our schools. Using educational robotics tools, students from Pre-K to college can develop key coding skills. This is largely because, among these various robot kits, many are compatible with various programming languages. So, beginning in Pre-K, a child might use the Cubetto Robot in screen-free coding activities. Then, they might move on to the Bee-Bot or Blue-Bot for CS experiences that are slightly more complex. And, by the time they're in kindergarten or first grade, they have a legitimate foundation and they're ready to continue developing fluencies in coding, problem solving, and even computational thinking.
One reason robotics in education is so effective is due to various advances in robotics equipment for schools. Beyond introducing the absolute basics of coding early on (and without a screen), students can then progress to one of the most basic forms of coding, which you might know as Blockly. So many robotics tools incorporate the Blockly coding language along with their corresponding programming environment. In fact, the Ozobot Evo, Root Robot, Edison Robot, and Dash Robot are among the most popular elementary robotics tools. These help children build on coding and technology knowledge as they prepare for the next step—text programming. In text coding, they can use tools like the databot 2.0, NAO Robot, and most of the others we've mentioned. And, through these experiences, they can develop STEM skills in a tangible way while using robotics tools to do so.
The Finch Robot is a teaching tool designed to combine these two crucial areas of STEM education for kids as young as 8 years old. Finch has a super simple surface, giving it the appearance of simplicity in the eyes of young students despite the fact that it’s actually filled with many tiny sensors. Plus, it supports over a dozen
The JD Humanoid perfectly combines all the characteristics you could want in a STEM learning tool and it’s perfect for quick classroom lessons or group projects. One of three EZ-Robot models, the JD helps kids excel at learning programming basics through the simplicity built into the ez-builder software—and, trust me, it doesn’t get much easier!
If you watched the Olympics, you noticed a major difference in how the athletes competed relative to even just a few years ago. The revolutions in sports technology are astounding and, more impressively, still in their infancy. It’s a testament to both the advances in STEM innovations and the desire of athletes, coaches and team owners wanting to succeed.
The meeperBOT is a portable, mobile and intuitive robot that kids can use to learn the basic concepts of programming and robotic behavior. With the meeperBOTS app, students as young as five years old, can control the meeperBOT with a simple, handheld, on-screen remote. Head inside to learn more about it.
From Aug. 2-5 2016, we’re participating in the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) Make Learning Happen event in Syracuse, NY. We were selected as the event’s preferred vendor after spending much of the last couple of months working to create, procure and customize EdTech bundles for PK-12 students in the districts they serve.
It’s time to dive a bit deeper into the top STEAM careers of tomorrow—the most profitable tracks, the skills students will need and the jobs robots will not be able to steal. One of the biggest fears facing the world today is the fact that robots seem poised to one day take over a great deal of our jobs at
If you are looking to introduce robotics at a young age, Cubelets is a fantastic way to do so. The three easy-to-use robot construction kits each come packaged with simple instructions along with some increasingly complex robot project ideas. I experimented with the Cubelets Six Kit, which includes six unique blocks.
Hands-on learning has taken the entire education community by storm. In almost every town and in almost every grade, teachers are ditching the lectures, ditching the desks and embarking on a brand new kind of more meaningful educational experience. And, you know why? Because it works! Keep reading and explore some of the best EdTech tools for this.
Want to build something and experience the fun of seeing it in action immediately? Then you want the mBot in your life! Ideal for early STEM education, mBot is a great toy that helps kids master the tricks of creative assembly and its built-in Arduino board helps them explore basic circuitry as well. It’s super easy for students to build
We think that everyday should be code day—at least in today’s K-12 schools. It is, however, Code Day in our hometown of Boston—actually Code Weekend if you want to get official as educators and makers around the area are celebrating the power of coding this Saturday and Sunday. And, we’re celebrating with them thanks to our Code Day Sale!
