Elementary Robots – What’s Not to Love?

Terry Smithwww.STEAM-In.orgHavens School – Piedmont USDterrysmith@steam-in.org@steamterry

Entire presentation can be found here

Google Expeditions – Happy to Share My Experience

Video Link

Plan for Today

• Brief Introduction• Why Robots?• Meet the Robots• They’re Cute but How are they Educational?

• Activities and Opportunities• Final Questions

Goal:Overview and Introduction to some low cost Robots for use in elementary classrooms and how to use them.

Some Quick Background• Programmer, Systems Engineer, Project Manager• 20+ years teaching coding to kids• Classroom teacher – 5th Grade• Technology, Science, Math specialist• District adopted CSTA standards 2 years ago• Implemented 1st-5th grade coding curriculum last year with 400+ students• Coming February – STEAM-In.org• Disclaimer

Havens Rocks the Bots

https://animoto.com/play/2ZqcEkdGIVVkRY9NGJ3XJw

Why Robots?

Dash & Dot

Probot – Robotic Car

Ozobot

Parrot Mini-drone

Sphero

Robots We Considered

Thymio

1. Record what you think about using robot on the padlet

2. Team - research your robot and record your results on the form

3. Create a Team slideshow to share your ideas with the class

Instructions to 5th Graders

When I asked the students pro’s and con’s…

Word cloud of student padlet responses to ‘”Educational Pros and Cons of Robots?”

What I was thinking….

Developing skills and strategies students will need in the future and which are part of the Computer Science standards• Develop Algorithmic and Computational

Thinking• Experience choosing technology wisely• Problem solving best uses of technology• Prototyping, testing, debugging• Troubleshooting – identifying exact problems• Finding workarounds• Fluency in different types of coding languages

and devices• Communicating directions to other users• Demonstrating new technology to other users

5th Grade Classroom Presentation

Totally Inconclusive

The Vote

Dash & Dot

Probot – Robotic CarBeeBotReplaced Thymio because we had them and Thymio was expensive and least popular choice

Ozobot

Parrot Mini-drone

Sphero

Meet Our Robots

Robotics

A Running Target

What we’ve learned so far

In order of my personal preference

Dash & Dot

Pro• Sturdy• Education focused• Fun accessories

• (catapult, tow, lego, xylophone)

• Android & iOS Apps• Lots of sensors and

functions• Lesson plans are

building• Blockly language + new

Wonder App• Wonder League -

competition

Con• On the expensive side

Source: Wonder Workshop

Cost: Dash $150 Dot $50 + device to program

Intro Video 3:20

OzoBot

Pro• Inexpensive – no added

device needed• Uses a completely

different form of programming – color code

• 2.0 version uses Blockly• Can experiment easily

Con• Limited use• Challenging to

get to do what you want

• Some markers don’t work – come out with their ownSource: Amazon

Cost: Ozobot 1.0 $50 Ozobot 2.0 $60 + device to program

Demo Video 1:30

Sphero

Pro• Sturdy – water and

pet proof• Fun accessories

• (ramps, bridges, terrain park)

• Android & IOS Apps• Tickle + Sprk

languages

Con• ‘toy’ focus – lots of

games• Functions a bit

limited

Source: Sphero Spark for Education

Cost: $130 + device to program

Demo Video 2:30

Beebot & Blue Bot

Pro• Sturdy & kid friendly• Easy accessibility -

buttons• Android & IOS Apps +

Terrapin Logo for Blue Bot

• Education focus – but mostly outside US

Con• Expensive for what it does• Functions limited

Source: Terrapin

Cost: Beebot $90 - Blue Bot $120 + device to program

Demo Video 4:22

Thymio

Pro• Versatile set of sensors

and functions• Unique visual

programming language – ASEBA

• Lego connections• Education focus – but

mostly outside US

Con• Expensive • Limited US distribution

Source: TechKids

Cost: $199 plus laptop to program

Demo Video 3:27

Probot

Pro• Sturdy • Drawing capability• Direct button

programming• Terrapin Logo can be

used• Education focus – but

mostly outside US

Con• Expensive for what it

does• Functions limited• Button/code interface

feels outdated

Source: Terrapin

Cost: $130 - $160 with Logo language + device to program

Demo Video 8:00

Pro• Cool factor• It flies• Android & IOS Apps• Tickle language

Con• 8 minute battery

life• Hassles with the

software

Source: Amazon

Cost: $75-$100 + device to program + extra batteries and charger

Demo Video :48

Parrot Mini-drone

Demo video 1:38

Got the Robots – Now What?

• Follow your Algorithm • Create A ‘Quick Start

Guide’ for your robot• Create a demo to teach

others how your robot works

Let the kids figure it out…

Insert video of 5th robotics projects

Click on image for video

Ozobot Challenge – No code at first…

1st - 3rd Grade Beebot SequenceFree exploration – Can you figure out how these buttons work?

How big is a Beebot step?

Get the Bee to the Flower and Back1. Freeform using measuring stick2. With grids3. Add obstacles Video Link

Beebot Story Challenges

Math Games

Mazes & Obstacle Courses

A great way to practice measurement and anglesBoth building and running

Robot Olympics – Girls Science Club put it on for the primary kids.

Joaquin Miller School - Oakland

Dash & Dot Competition ActivitiesProblem solving challenges…

Jackson Pollock Paintings done with Sphero

Solar System Model – Using Sphero – done by 3rd Graders

Make them Dance

Adds timing to angles, speed, direction…

100 Dancing Robots Come to Life

Making of 100 Dancing Robots Video

Elementary Robots – What’s Not to Love?

Terry Smithwww.STEAM-In.orgHavens School – Piedmont USDterrysmith@steam-in.org@steamterry

Entire presentation can be found here