Even as the summer months have arrived and we’ve all become as adjusted to distance learning as we’ll probably get, we’re still continuing our search for new EdTech tools. Our online store is always growing and educators can routinely find new additions in terms of robotics, coding, 3D printing, makerspace, engineering, and virtual reality tools. Whether you’re looking for some new options for summer STEAM activities or actively on the hunt for some new classroom tools for once you’re able to get back, we pride ourselves on offering the largest variety of EdTech, STEM, and MakerEd tools all in one place. In the recent weeks, we’ve added new options from Sphero, MakeDo, Glowforge, and databot (among others) to our store and we’re happy to be able to help educators implement them in instruction!
Sphero CS Foundations
Teaching robotics and coding can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, especially when teachers are just starting out. It can also be challenging to align the robotics tools, the curricular content, and the desired outcomes educators want in achieving 21st century readiness. Various EdTech manufacturers, including robotics companies, have responded to this by creating their own curricula and the CS Foundations courses from Sphero are a fine example of doing just that. There are three total CS Foundations courses, which are each available on our store separately or all together in one bundle. In using these materials, teachers can better prepare for using the Sphero robots to teach coding, computational thinking, and problem-solving skills in the classroom by helping them focus on what’s most important.
The content found in the CS Foundations courses is all aligned with educational standards and designed to serve as a supplemental curriculum when teaching with Sphero’s robots. They can be added to an existing STEAM or coding program or used by curriculum developers as a foundation for developing a new one. The lessons have each been created to resonate with both teachers and students and, using the specific content that’s included, educators can help students achieve specific outcomes by the end of each course. There are 24 lessons in each of the three courses and students can use what they learn at first to continue progressing and get ready for the next problem-solving and programming challenge!
The courses help teachers in understanding more about how to use the Sphero Edu app in instruction as well—an important part of maximizing this robotics tool. Within the app, there are three ways for students to program their robots: Draw, blocks, and text. Teachers can learn how to maximize each of these and, by the time students complete Course 1, they’ll be able to use block programs to manipulate lights and sounds, add loops to their programs, and create conditionals. After completing Course 2, they should be able to master block programming and know how to manipulate sensors, loops, conditionals, variables, and functions as well as understand block-to-text programming transitions. When finished with Course 3, they should be ready to develop more complex programs with the block canvas and then rewrite them in a text format using JavaScript, illustrating why these courses carry a great deal of value for both teachers and students!
MakeDo Kits
The building and construction kits from MakeDo have long been one of our favorite low-tech STEAM learning options for students. Since there’s not a lot of technical knowhow associated with the plastic building pieces and cardboard strips students tend to connect together using them, we thought it would be a good time to get these new options on our store. The MakeDo kits are perfect for both summer STEAM camps and at-home making. There are three new kits in total to choose from: MakeDo Explore (the smallest), MakeDo Discover, and MakeDo Invent (the largest). The kits contain many of the same plastic tools found in other earlier MakeDo kits, but they include some new plastic tools as well—some that empower students to take their MakerEd to the next level.
Each of the MakeDo kits integrates nicely in a classroom, library, makerspace, or design studio thanks to the fact that they’re so open-ended. Students can use components in the kits to engineer projects big and small and teachers can enjoy peace of mind knowing that there are no sharp edges on any of the tools. The MakeDo Invent kit, in particular, comes with 366 tools in total, making it an excellent STEAM kit for as many as 24 students to use in a collaborative space. Among the items in the kit are eight SAFE-SAWS, eight SCRU-DRIVERS, 240 SCRUS, 90 SCRU XLS, and 12 MINI-TOOLS. Then, you have the addition of the eight FOLD-ROLLERS and a TOOLBOX for storage and transport to help make this MakeDo kit even more appealing.
The MakeDo Discover Kit is a scaled-down version of the Invent Kit and includes many of the same plastic tools. It contains 126 pieces in total, including the addition of the SAFE-SAW JNR for younger makers to work with. This kit also contains one SAFE-SAW, one FOLD-ROLLER, one SCRU-DRIVER, 90 SCRUS, 30 SCRU XLS, two MINI-TOOLS, and one toolbox, able to support 1-5 students at a time. Finally, the MakeDo Explore Kit contains 50 tool pieces and is designed to support one or two students at a time, making it perhaps the best option for parents and children to use at home. The Explore Kit comes with one SAFE-SAW, one SCRU-DRIVER, 36 SCRUS, 12 SCRU XLS, one MINI-TOOL, and one TOOLBOX. Whichever kit you choose, parents, teachers, or camp leaders can learn alongside students as they partake in some innovative, invention-based fun this summer!
Glowforge
When it comes to this next recent addition to our store, there are few we’ve ever been more excited to talk about! Glowforge is a line of 3D laser printers that are very efficient to use and very safe for students. We were recently able to add both the Glowforge Plus and Glowforge Pro to our store, filling a niche space when it comes to maker education and offering educators a powerful option for 3D creation. The two models are almost the same size, but the Glowforge Pro provides a more powerful output and comes with what’s called the Pro Passthrough, an extension of sorts that allows students to print objects that are infinitely long! Using the Glowforge Plus, they’re limited in the length of the objects they can print, but both models still offer a tremendous upside.
So, what makes the two models different from each other? Well, we already talked about the Pro Passthrough, which is probably the most important difference. Another is the price (the Pro is $2,000 more than the Plus), but it also features an enhanced cooling system so it can theoretically be used all day, whereas the Plus model needs to cool from time to time. The fastest cut speed of the Pro is 20 percent faster than that of the Plus and its enhanced top speed is 1.5 times faster. Finally, the Pro puts out 45 watts of laser tube power while the Plus puts out just 40 watts. Whichever model you choose to try, however, we highly recommend using the Glowforge Air Filter as well. Since 3D laser printers require air ventilation to keep all users safe, it’s a valuable piece of equipment, easy to transport, and easy to use. You can find it below!
Students and makers can create three-dimensional objects out of digital designs by downloading or creating their own within Glowforge’s free software program, which is included with the printers. As for the materials makers can print on, the list is extensive and includes popular ones, such as wood, leather, cloth, and chocolate. Glowforge printers are compatible with Chromebooks, Macs, PCs, and tablets—versatility that helps them fit into the education world. As for the similarities the two printers share, both can be set up in 30 minutes or less, both work with hundreds of different printing materials, and both offer a live camera preview of the print being made. As we said, they also both come with the free, web-based software and the same device compatibility. Click below to buy or request a quote for Glowforge!
databot
Like the Glowforge machines, the databot is another very powerful STEM tool. As its name implies, it is a robot that is able to capture and use a wide variety of environmental data. The robots are fitted with 12 on-board sensors that are constantly capturing data from many different points. Despite these powerful abilities, the databot is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and easy enough to learn with that students as young as fourth grade can use it. It’s also perfect for collaborative learning as 2-3 students can use a databot at a time and they come as a single unit, in a 2-pack, or in a 10-pack. With the data the robot collects, students can engage in brand-new kinds of STEM experiments in just about any kind of learning environment!
The databot is used primarily with the Google Science Journal program. Pairing this platform with the databot allows students to conduct fun experiments, record their observations, own the results, and try again. It can be accessed on a computer or tablet and has a range of compatible options. Once connected, the databot can start collecting data on air pressure, altitude, humidity, light, CO2, and UV. It also includes and accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, and a microphone, creating a huge amount of possibilities for STEM experiments using real data. Students, for example, can program the databot to make simple squeaks, beeps, and tones or run a custom light show using its light and sound capabilities—just one way of getting started with this tool.
The databot is designed to be used in elementary, middle, and high school classes as well as in CTE programs. It also includes various options for connecting other STEAM tools, like LEGOs, Fischertechnik, and, most notably, the Sphero RVR. Using the databot, educators can teach important science concepts ranging from data science, coding, and physics to earth science, biology, and chemistry. The kits each come with the databot robots, 8 GB micro SD cards, micro SD card readers, USB charging cables, external temperature probes, velcro pads, base plates, lanyards, and storage cases. There are one of each with the single unit, two with the 2-pack, and 10 with the 10-pack. To learn more about the databot and to place an order, visit our store!
Tech Will Save Us
Some of the Tech Will Save Us kits have been on our store for a few years and still offer students an affordable way to explore STEAM at home or at school. We’re also really excited about some of their newer kits—those that can be used to combine hands-on making with more tech-related learning opportunities, such as coding. Some of the Tech Will Save Us kits that have been around for a longer period of time include the Electro Dough Kit, Synth Kit, and Thirsty Plant Kit—each of which offer students the chance to try simple experiments at home. With the Electro Dough, students can build projects out of conductive clay and light them up using simple electronics components. With the Synth Kit, they can build their own circuit that serves as a synthesizer and, with the Thirsty Plant Kit, they can build a solar device that reminds them when their plant needs water!
With some of their newer kits, students can still work with some easy-to-use materials for building, but take their inventions to the next level. With the Gamer Kit, for example, they can build a handheld gaming device out of the components that come in the box. Then, using the Tech Will Save Us online coding platform, they can learn to program their own versions of classic video games! There are dozens of projects they can try and the kit comes with a very helpful manual. With the Sew and Glow Kit, students can sew their own badges and create circuits using what’s known as electro thread. They can get truly creative with their inventions and find hundreds of crafting ideas on the Club Make portal created by Tech Will Save Us!
The other two newer kits are the Light Racer Kit and the Creative Coder Kit. With the Light Racer Kit, students can build their own bike light and capture electricity from the air while riding! This, too, has a detailed manual and students can learn about electronics components, like capacitors and coils as they’re used to charge their bike wheels. Finally, the Creative Coder Kit can be used to build and program wearable devices using block code. Students can use the included snapband, which straps around their wrist like a watch, their own physical movements in combination with code they create to control how it lights up! All of these cool Tech Will Save Us kits can be found on our store by clicking below or by doing a search at the top of the page!
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