Bringing Robotics to Life Virtually Workshop Resources
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At WhyMaker we LOVE robotics! As teachers, we have seen the pure happiness our students experience when they have success while learning with robotics. There is something special for kids about using a physical robot to connect your computer code into the real world around you. There are many essential skills that kids develop when working with robots.
They preserve, problem solve, collaborate and deepen their knowledge
Robots easily connect to the students real-world by highlighting connections between sensors they experience, Artificial Intelligence, things that move and their code.
Students also practice their fine and gross motor skills by building, plugin pieces in and chasing robots when they run away.
Check out how excited these students are while using robots to learn!
People joke about how much I love teaching robots, but I have seen the value of them first hand and through my many years in this field I believe in their value.
As the landscape of teaching has changed over the last year many of the schools we have been working with are virtual. This means we have dived really deep into the world of virtual robotics platforms. This has been a fun experience and has allowed us to find more resources for teachers that they are able to use virtually and in classroom.
Below is a list of the best robot platforms available in the Spring of 2021
Lego Bits & Bricks - This platform uses block-based coding to challenge students to move a Lego Robot through mazes. This is great for students in grades K - 4, who are beginning to learn about coding and robotics. We’ve watched kids and adults get hooked to this catchy, cute program. The web-based program has few words and the ability to read all of the challenges out loud to students. It is web-based and works on all sorts of devices. Check it out for your young pre-readers! your students!
Kai’s Clan - New on the scene but has HUGE potential. Kai’s Clan is the ultimate combination of everything your STEM, Tech Teacher dreams are made of - seriously. With Kai’s Clan, as a virtual teacher, you will have one of their 4 different mats and a handful of robots on the mat with you, then from anywhere in the world, students can log in and program the robots to move! In addition to the physical robots, there is a virtual world, Augmented Reality (AR) world where students can see how the robots would operate if they do not have the physical mats. Students can also create avatars on Minecraft or Tinkercad to import into the virtual world and interact with. The potential is huge, you can use their lesson plans to create a semester long course teaching robotics, coding, AR, VR, 3D design and more. This product is great for students in grade 5 - 12. You can purchase Kai’s Clan directly from the WhyMaker store.
CoderZ - One of the most exciting things about CoderZ is the upcoming Virtual Robotics Competition! There are various levels of challenges for you students, blockly, python and/or java. Students work in teams and compete against others from all around the world. Check out the exciting options they have for the upcoming competition! https://coderzleague.com/
RoboAcademy - https://www.robomindacademy.com/navigator/courses Robo Academy focuses on computational thinking skills for students. This organization believes that all of our students need to “think in a structured and logical way, such that you can make a machine work for you”. The great self-paced courses for students ages 9 and older build their computational thinking skills in powerful ways.
Bee-Bot Emulator - For our littles who love BeeBots, there is now an online emulator! Teachers can choose from a variety of mats and work together with students to code a virtual Bee-Bot to move on the virtual mat. This platform leads to collaborative learning but simple enough for littles to do themselves as well! We would love to pop into a virtual class that is using this - send us an email if you are going to try it!
Edison Robots - Not a virtual platform but affordable enough to have each student use their own. Check out the article in STEM|ED Magazine to learn about how Watertown School District did exactly this. They purchased enough robots for each of their students, sent them to their homes and taught their students how to use and code the Edison Robots, all while being virtual! How amazing is that!? See how affordable they are on the WhyMaker store.
Our students, more than ever, need hands-on and engaging learning experiences. All of the platforms above provide many opportunities to grab students’ attention, have them create something, practice computational thinking and computer science.
WhyMaker is here to support you and all your STEM and Maker ED needs.
Check out our Weekly STEM meetups where a lot of these ideas were generated from. Also, check out the WhyMaker store for a lot of other robot systems that we sell because we love them!
Coding (no physical elements needed)
Lego Bits & Bricks- Uses block coding to help Bit the adventurous LEGO robot
Code.org - coding courses and activities, also houses Hour of Code lessons (plugged/unplugged)
Robotify - Courses for Robots
CoderZ - CyberRobotics Course
Legends of Learning - Good for grades 3 - 5
RoboRave -A Robotics Education program to teach students and teachers how to design, build, program and test robots to perform a variety of tasks.
RoboMind Academy- program a virtual robot-nice introduction to logic, automation and technology
Tinkercad - app for 3D design, electronics, and coding
Makers Empire - 3D modeling computer program designed to introduce 4-13 year old students to Design Thinking and engage them in STEM learning via 3D design and 3D printing.
Swift Playgrounds - an educational tool and development environment for the Swift programming language developed by Apple Inc, (iPad/Mac)
Tools geared more toward High School Age:
VEX VR - Virtual coding platform for VEX using Scratch and Text Based coding
Coderz - Works only with Chrome Browser, Flexibility if you are under 30 licenses.
PhET: Interactive Simulations for Science and Math
Coding that includes Physical Robots:
Sphero - Lesson Ideas
Other Ideas & Resources:
Random Video: plea to Students!