Sphero’s round, rolling robots have long been a staple in STEM classrooms around the world. Their various models provide some valuable computer science experience for students in just about every K-12 grade with the SPRK+ for elementary students, the BOLT for elementary and middle schoolers, and the RVR for high school students. There’s also the Sphero Mini, which is ideal for elementary education and now there’s an all-new model for teaching coding! The Sphero Mini, which was previously available with a hard shell, has been remixed to provide a more transparent learning experience—literally.
Previously, the original Sphero Mini was available in five different colors and in a classroom pack of 30 units. Now, the new, transparent models are available as part of a classroom pack of 16. It includes everything elementary educators need to approach coding education in a new way and, if any middle or high school teachers want to give the new Mini a try as well, they certainly can, too! If you’re at all familiar with the original Sphero Mini model, the new one is largely similar —at least in terms of how it’s used in learning.
Using feedback from educators and students, however, the Sphero team decided to make the shell transparent so that students could see the inner workings of the robot. When they see the mechanical components of the robot activated as it is moving, students tend to become more intrigued and engaged. This new feature is the main difference between the new Sphero Mini and the previous model—something we definitely agree is unique and useful in terms of STEM tools. It includes most of the same technology as well, like a little gyroscope, accelerometer, and LED lights and the new model can be used for up to an hour of continuous learning and programming.
A staple of learning with the Sphero Mini, the new Education Pack also comes with 16 sets of mini traffic cones, bowling pins, and construction sets. It also includes step-by-step activity cards so students can maximize the ways in which they use their robots and accessories to advance STEM learning. By following the instructions on the activity cards, they can learn the basics of the Mini’s capabilities and ultimately discover creative ways to design their own activities! By keeping learning light and fun, the new Sphero Mini continues to provide a fruitful approach to engaging students in STEM experiences.
Like the previous Sphero Mini, the new model can be programmed using the Sphero Edu mobile app. The app is compatible with just about every mobile device, including all major tablets and laptops. In terms of programming, the new Mini can be coded in the same ways as the previous model, though students are able to see the internal parts of the robot at work while they program. The coding options include simple drawing, which can be done with a finger, block coding, which can be done with Scratch blocks, and text coding, which can be done in the JavaScript language.
In terms of STEM lessons, the opportunities the new Sphero Mini provides are extended. Since the Education Pack includes 16 units, educators can take advantage and design lessons that are intentionally collaborative. This means that multiple students or multiple groups of students can control multiple robots as part of the same project! Plus, mixing in the pins and cones allows students to take learning with the Sphero Mini in so many different directions, using it to learn anything from physics and math to engineering and coding.
If you’re looking for a new tech tool to teach collaboration and coding in your classroom, the revamped Sphero Mini Education Pack can provide that solution. To learn more about what the new Mini model can do and how to use it in the classroom, click below to visit the Eduporium store. And, if you have any questions about the Sphero Mini or any of the other Sphero models, please feel free to get in touch with us! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram as well to maximize your STEM, EdTech, and MakerEd knowledge!