Sphero

Sphero is a programmable toy/robot/sphere that is being used in schools worldwide.  This is a super fun and fantastic learning device that lets students program their Sphero on any mobile device.  There is even a curriculum called SPRK (Schools Parents Robots Kids) that is dedicated to teaching kids Common Core skills aligned to STEM (i.e. Science/Technology/Math).  The Sphero is an easy to use device that can be used to play games, in the water, and in wide array of different ways to integrate into education.

I highly recommend checking out Sphero and how it can be used in education here!!!

Below is a demo video...



For my Pinterest board on Sphero Apps click here.

*Orbotix is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Ozobot

Ozobot is a new robotic toy that is ideal for STEM and can be programmed.  Ideally, it will dray comparisons to the Sphero but is different enough that any school LRC or Science teacher can whip this out for some cool educational demonstrations!!!

Right out of the box Ozobot is a synch to sync up by just placing the little robotic orb on the calibration card.  That's it, a person can also calibrate on their mobile device (i.e. Android, iPhone/iPad, etc) by displaying a white image set to 50% brightness and pressing the button on the side.  For a cool little light display and to watch the Ozbots (2 in a box) in action place them on the colored "race track" and watch them go and light up to specific colors.

There are also 5 super fun games that can be downloaded for free (OzoPath, OzoDraw, OzoLuck, OzoGroove, and OzoRace.  Click here for more information on these games; some are multiplayer & some allows the Ozobots to dance and draw.  There are also paper templates that can be printed out that people can use w/ their Ozobots.  A person can even draw their own track in colored marker and watch the Ozobot go!!!

More detailes:

• Independent Decisions - via Random Logic
• Autonomous Cruising - via Precision Line-Sensing
• Intelligent Gameplay - via Optical Commuication
• Visual Feedback - w/ Multicolor LED Lighting
• Thrill or Chill Speeds - using Dual MicroMotos

The box includes 2 Ozobots, Cards (racing track/instructions/calibration card), 2 USB chargers, 4 skins.

I highly recommend checking out Ozobot clicking here!!!

Below is a brief demo video...

Sphero: Orb Basics Lesson 3

The next lesson in my series of Sphero lessons aligned to Common Core Standards is the concepts of reading sensors and storing data in variables.  Students will use the free OrbBasic text based iOS app to write simple programs that the Sphero will detect when it is in the air or collides w/ another object.  Upon these conditions the Sphero will then change it's behavior or color.

*All data will be recorded in the free downloaded worksheet by the student.

Objectives (aligned to Common Core Math Standards)

Students will:

• Create a short OrbBasic program that changes the color of the Sphero when it senses that it is in the air.
• Create another OrbBasic program that recognizes when Sphero collides w/ another object and then changes color.
• Create a third OrbBasic program that sends the Sphero in a random direction after the collision.

Students will learn a new command called accelone which causes the Sphero's accelerometer to sense that when it is in the air.  Usually, the accelone is set to 0 but students will set it to to < 200.  Students will use a conditional statement and the LEDC commands to change the color of the Sphero when it is in the air.  If the condition is false then the program will loop back to the beginning.

Sensing collions

Students will create a macro that will be sensing collisions instead of when the Sphero is in the air.  They will build a code to read if the accelerometer is greater than 5000 (indicates when Sphero collides w/ something).  If this conditional statement is true it will then move down to the next line of of the program which commands the Sphero to change to the color of red for 1 second.  

Fun Challenge  

Students will build a code that will make the Sphero drive straight and then move in a random direction after a collision.  (see teacher's guide for code/answer)

To view more educational lessons that you can do w/ the Sphero click here!!!

For my Pinterest board on iOS Apps for the Sphero click here.

Sphero: Percentages

Sphero the innovative and fantastic programmable robotic ball is something I've posted about in the past.  This is a great Ed Tech "toy" that can be used w/ kids of all ages for a wide variety of purposes. However, Orbotix has worked w/ educators to create STEM related lesson plans for 4/5th grade students.  This latest lesson has students using the Sphero to explore percentages using speed and color.

*All data will be recorded by the student in the downloadable worksheet.

Objectives (aligned to Common Core Math Standards)

• Create a one-line program that moves the Sphero at a steady speed for a specified amount of time
• Perform measurements to determine the distance traveled 
• Perform division to calculate speeds
• Perform division to calculate percentages
• Create a two-line program to display a color for a certain length of time
• Have Sphero light up in primary colors (red)
• Have Sphero light up in colors that involve two primary colors (yellow and orange)

Speed

To start out students will create a new macro (program) using the free app MacroLab, then add a roll command and set it to move at 100% speed for 3000 milliseconds (3 seconds).  Once the Sphero stops rolling and starts sliding a piece of masking tape will placed there.  They will then measure from the masking tape (to where the Sphero first stopped) to where it finally ended up.  They will then calculate the speed by dividing the distance by time (3 seconds).  Then students will repeat this process by modifying the macro for the speed at 50% and then at 30%.  At the end they will divide the distance from the 50% experiment by the 100%, and also the distance from 30% experiment by the 100%.  Students should have values of close to .5 and .3 and convert those into percentages.

Color

This is a very fun activity that has students mixing colors to light up the Sphero (FYI, mixing colors w/ light is very different then mixing colors w/ paint).  Students will create a macro (program) by adding a color (RGB) and a delay command.  The color will be set to 100% red and a delay to 3000 msec (3 seconds).  Then they can modify the macro to use 50% red and to make the colors yellow (100% red & 100% green) and orange (100% red & 50% green).  

A fun challenge will be to have students create two different colors using all three primary colors.  Through experimenting they will be asked to make the colors: white (100% red, 100% green, 100% blue) gray (50% red, 50% green, 50% blue), and purple (70% red, 0% green, 100% blue).

I highly recommend checking out Sphero for Education by clicking here!!!

For my Pinterest board on Sphero click here.

Sphero: Polygons and Angles

This is my second post in a series that will cover the educational lesson plans from the SPRK (Schools Parents Robots Kids) program.  In this lesson (designed for 4-5th graders) students will use Sphero to draw polygons and learn the relationship between heading angles and the number of sides in a polygon where all sides are equal.

*All data will be recorded by the student in the downloadable worksheet.

Objectives (aligned to Common Core Math Standards)

• Learn about how the Sphero has a heading that goes from 0 to 360 degrees, and it determines in which direction it will roll.
• Students will write a program to make the Sphero draw a square, where each side of the square is a different color.
• Students will write a program to make draw a triangle, determining the heading angles from clues.
• Students will write a program to make draw a pentagon, determining the heading angles from a formula.

Square

To start out the students will create a new macro using the free MacroLab app.  They will do this adding a color (RGB) command and then a roll command.  They will then repeat this step but w/ a 90 degree heading.  Again they will repeat this step w/ a 180 degree angle and finally a 270 degree heading.  Of course it is vital that students test these commands by running them to see how the Sphero reacts and adjust accordingly.

Triangle

After having the Sphero draw a square they will draw a triangle.  After discussing why 360 degrees in a circle is divided up into 4 equal parts at 90 degree angles forms a square students will divide 360 degrees into 3 equal parts at 120 degrees.  Students will create a new macro and add a color (RGB) command w/ a roll command of a heading of 0.  They will repeat this step w/ a 120 degree heading and a stop command delay of 255.  Finally, they'll add another macro w/ a color (RGB) command, w/ a 240 degree heading, and a stop command w/ a delay of 255.  Finally, they modify their macro by adding stop/delay commands at the end of each side of triangle.

Fun Challenge

This challenge is to see if the students have understood the concepts by having a Sphero draw a pentagon.  They'll need to figure out that a pentagon has 5 sides and heading directions will be 360 / 5 = 72 degrees.  Their macro will need to look like this... 

1. Add a RGB command for red and roll w/ heading of 0.
2. Add a RGB command for green and roll w/ heading of 72.
3. Add a RGB command for blue and roll w/ heading of 144.
4. Add a RGB command for yellow and roll w/ heading of 216.
5. Add a RGB command for purple and roll w/ a heading of 288.

For my Pinterest board on Sphero Apps click here.

Robots for iPad

Robotos for iPad is an innovative fun app for exploring real-world robots.  This is a great app for education that allows students to explore over a 100 robots from around the world by interacting w/: images, articles, photos, videos, and more.

I highly recommend checking out Robotos for iPads by clicking here!!!

For my Educational iOS Apps Pinterest board click here.
For my Edshelf collection iOS Apps click here.