I read about this very cool toy robot that is being used to help teach 5th-graders learn about programming.
They call it the Sphero SPRKs, these are grapefruit-sized robotic, programmable polycarbonate balls that can be coded to roll in specific patterns. This provides an engaging activity for kids to learn practical uses for geometry and physics.
It can be paired to a tablet and has a user-friendly interface that lets a student control it’s movements. This is amazing since most kids are so engrossed with gadgets, and now they can have more fun as they go through their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) curriculum.
The students’ response in bringing in these spheres of wonder has been met with so much enthusiasm that according to Michele Beddow, they are planning to extend this activity to 3rd and 4th-graders soon.
A set of Sphero SPRKs costs $150, and the Mount Olive TWP had invested on 2 sets of these toys for their STEM-related initiatives. Four of the district’s elementary school libraries are sharing this resource and brought in another 2 sets of Cubelets allowing students to work together on various projects.
Sphero has sold these robotic balls in more than 1,000 schools in 2014 and estimated that about 150,000 students had used them.
Isn’t this an exciting way to get students to visit the library more often? I bet children would find it interesting to discover how libraries can hold so much knowledge and still keep the fun-factor there.
Click here to read the article: http://www.newjerseyhills.com/mt_olive_chronicle/news/shades-of-r-d-it-s-spheros-in-mount-olive/article_d9ffcd0c-ec5c-5fdf-87b2-979b97685316.html
Are you from Mount Olive TWP? Have you ever seen the Sphero SPRKs in action? How did you relate to this article? Let us know in the comments 🙂
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