- Robotics in Early Learning - Coding Develops Computational Thinking SkillsKinderLab Robotics, the creator of KIBO, the Screen-free STEAM Robotic Kit, shares key reasons why robotics should be incorporated in early learning classrooms. This second article, Coding Develops Computational Thinking Skills, describes how young learners can engage in computational thinking, a process that can increase both their cognitive and social-emotional skills.Solving Problems
How do you solve a problem in a structured way? With computational thinking, you model the problem, break it down into smaller sequential steps, invent solutions, and test them out. The term “computational thinking” grew out of work in the 1980s by Seymour Papert, a pioneer in teaching children to create with code.More recently, theorists and educators have begun to explore the connections between computational thinking and the cognitive skills developed in early childhood. For example, when children use code to create algorithms (a series of ordered steps to solve a problem) they develop their sequencing ability: an important foundational skill needed for reading and mathematics.Research States, “As early as pre-kindergarten, children are able to master foundational concepts regarding programming a robot and that children as young as 7 years old are able to master concepts as complex as programming a robot using conditional statements.” (Sullivan & Bers, 2015)When children plan a sequence of actions for KIBO to perform, they assemble their program as a line of wooden command blocks. They scan the blocks with KIBO’s barcode scanner, one by one in sequence. When the robot acts out the sequence, children can follow along by referring to the blocks they’ve scanned. Using KIBO, educators can integrate coding into all curricular areas to promote literacy, math, science, engineering, and the arts through a project-based approach.Computational Thinking Research Behind the ScenesKIBO’s programming method is rooted in years of research identifying the most effective ways to introduce coding in early childhood education.
Research shows that young children can learn programming and engineering at a very early age. This is possible when children are given tools that are developmentally appropriate, that encourage open-ended play and that allow the integration of technical skills with expressive arts, math, literacy and cultural explorations.“Young kids learn by doing”
They learn best by playing with physical objects: by making things, testing things. To learn programming and engineering, they need materials designed in the spirit of traditional learning manipulatives in early childhood (physical, as opposed to on-screen).
Children engage in playful learning, cultivate their curiosity for the technological world, explore problem solving, and understand concepts such as cause-and-effect, sensors and motors sequencing and programming, .Robotics in Early Childhood - Motorized, Reconfigurable, Smart and Programmable Robotics ToyBuild 6 reconfigurable and programmable robot models using a Mobile or PC.Motorized, Reconfigurable, Smart and Programmable Robotics ToyROBOTIS PLAY 700 is an educational toy kit that can provide your child fun and easy introduction to STEAM education!
Play and Program your robotic creations using Android, iOS, Windows, or macOS!With ROBOTIS PLAY700 kit, you can Connect, Play, and Program your robotic creations using Android, iOS, Windows, or macOS!- Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity
- Start playing R+PLAY700 app (Android or iOS)
- Program in Scratch using R + Scratch
- R+Task2.0 an icon-based programming tool based in C++
CAR- Wheel-based movement
- Remote Control
DOG- Wheel-based movement
- Remote Control
- Line Tracing
- Line Avoiding
SCORPION- Walks on 8 legs
- Remote Control
- Line Tracing / draw lines
- Conttrol - Voice / sound
BIRD- Moves by detecting slope or light
WINDMILL- Wheel-based movement
- Remote Control
BEAR- Wheel-based movement
- Remote Control
- Line Tracing
- Line Avoiding
** To use the PLAY 700 with R+SCRATCH, users must separately purchase a BT-410 Dongle to connect to a PCR+ SCRATCH
R+Scratch tool was made available in 2016 and is effectively a helper app serving as HTTP extension to the SCRATCH 2.0 software tool from MIT. R+Scratch allows ROBOTIS Controllers to connect to Scratch and program robots in Scratch.MIT Scratch is designed especially for ages 8 to 16, but is used by people of all ages. Millions of people are creating Scratch projects in a wide variety of settings, including homes, schools, museums, libraries, and community centers.The ability to code computer programs is an important part of literacy in today’s society. When people learn to code in Scratch, they learn important strategies for solving problems, designing projects, and communicating ideas.
Mitch ResnickLet's Play
Download the free R+ PLAY700 app (Android or iOS) and start playing!Remote: Forward, Backward, Left, Right
Sound: 1xForward, 2xBackward, 3x Left, 4x Right
Line Tracer: Go on an adventure by tracing the black line on the provided mapRemote: Forward, Backward, Left, RightRemote: Forward, Backward, Left, Right
Line Avoider: Stay within the black line on the provided map
Line Tracer: Go on an adventure by tracing the black line on the provided mapBlow into the microphone of the smart device to control the speed of the fanShake: Shake the smartphone or tablet to control the bear climbing up the bar
Clap: Bear climbs up the bar as many times as you clapTilt: Tilt the smart device to make the bird move forward, backward, left or right
Light: Only when exposed to light, can the bird flaps it’s wings and cry outNOTE: The robot examples provided do not utilize all of the sensors available in the PLAY 700 Controller Module. You can create your own mode or build your own creation and bring it to life by programming it yourself.