The BirdBrain Technologies team, creators of the Hummingbird and Finch Robots, also offer self-paced video PD courses for teachers. The first video in this free series is the MakeCode Course, which focuses on the Hummingbird Bit Robot kit, providing all sorts of helpful insights into how you program, build, and teach with it. Educators can complete it in just 2-3 hours and it features ideas for classroom projects and tips for integration. Anyone with interest can access the MakeCode Course for the Hummingbird Bit to get started with learning these new skills.
Utilizing the Hummingbird Robot kits.
With the Hummingbird Bit kit, kids can combine robotics, programming, art and design, and the micro:bit into one STEAM experience. With the addition of the micro:bit to the Hummingbird Robot kits, it's possible for students in elementary and middle school to get creative with their designs while coding with one of the most powerful and efficient learning tools. Compatibility with the Hummingbird Bit is its greatest advantage as students can program inventions in five different ways (BirdBlox, MakeCode, Snap!, Python, and Java) as well as on six different device types (Windows, Mac, Chrome, iOS, Android, and Linux).
The Hummingbird Robotics kits are available in a variety of options on our store. They include the Base Kit, the Premium Kit, and the Hummingbird Classroom Flock with and without micro:bit units and cables. There are also options to purchase both the Base and Premium kits with or without micro:bit units. The Base and Premium kits each support 1-4 students while the Hummingbird Flock can support up to 12 students.
The Hummingbird Bit and MakeCode.
The MakeCode course for the Hummingbird Robot kits can help educators learn various approaches and strategies for just that. The BirdBrain team is also working on courses for programing the Hummingbird Bit in both BirdBlox and Snap! and we’ll pass along those resources as soon as we can. For now, if you have any questions about the MakeCode Course or the Hummingbird Robot, feel free to get in touch with us and give us a follow on Twitter and Instagram to learn more.