Robots... that can teach!?

Bee bot cruising

Don't be silly, of course robots can't teach... but in today's blog I will be exploring  programmable toys that can be used for a number of learning experiences.




Programmable toys

Bee bot

The Bee bot is a programmable toy/bee. By putting in a sequence of instructions or commands on the arrow buttons, the Bee bot moves where you want. This toy is incredibly useful for a range of cross-curricular activities. From literacy, to numeracy, to ICT, to... general fun??

There are endless 'mats' that can be used, showing different themes. This link shows a treasure island map, and suggests different games you could play with children. Similarly you could get your children to plan out their own Bee bot maps based on a particular theme. The video below shows how Bee bot could be used to teach literacy. 

PIPPIN

A similar programmable toy (albeit less cute) is PIPPIN. This toy is slightly more advanced than Bee bot. Instead of simple directional arrow keys, PIPPIN requires the user to type in a certain amount of units to move forward, and the number of degrees required to turn. PIPPIN can have a pen dropped through it's middle, making it possible to draw wherever he moves. 

Cross-curricular activities.
In particular, the robot lends itself well to numeracy.  PIPPIN could be used to:

• Draw shapes - "how would we make PIPPIN draw a square?" 
• Negotiate a course - "can you get PIPPIN around these obstacles - what angles would you need to think about"
• Follow instructions - using instruction cards in a sequence "go forward; turn left 37 degrees"...
• Estimate distance 
• Count - "Where would we land if we moved PIPPIN x metres"

Key vocabulary could involve units (cm, m,), directions (forwards, backwards, left, right), compass instructions (North, East, South, West), angles (acute, obtuse)... among others.

Extension work for more able/older children can be set. This could include introducing obstacles to navigate around, longer/more complicated sequences to follow, further distances, wider variety of angles, introduction of harder units...

Differentiation for those children less able/younger could similarly be achieved by following the opposite of extensions. 

Assessment. PIPPIN provides children with a great way to consolidate their learning, and in turn allows teachers to assess what the children have learnt. This could be for literacy, numeracy, or ICT. 

Data Logger

The data logger is a measuring tool that can record information about environmental changes over a period of time. The resulting information can be examined in a table or as a graph. The information recorded includes sound, temperature and light. This link  provides a variety of scientific resources and experiments teachers could use with their class. 

My favourite experiment they suggest is "Why do animals huddle?", using the data logger to record the temperature of different locations. As well as looking at animal adaptation the investigation re-enforces work on temperature measurement, how heat energy is lost, insulation and that objects cool or warm to the temperature of their surroundings.

Digital Microscope

In 2002 the UK government provided every school with a digital microscope. By connecting it to the IWB, the microscope suddenly changes from an individual, to a whole class resource. Similarly the digital microscope allows students to take photographs of what they are seeing. this can then be used as evidence in science, as a recap to jog children's memory, or as a photo for a class/school display. 

The digital microscope:

• allows children to view magnified objects easily
• has uses beyond that of an ordinary micrscope
• extends children's ICT skill
• is portable and durable
• is fun to use and is particularly motivating
• has a presentational element, allowing children to create videos with special effects etc...

Thats about that for programmable toys. Hope you had a blast