STEAM tools

The Tool

Description

Application

The micro:bit is a pocket-sized codeable computer with motion detection, a built-in compass and Bluetooth technology, which enables students to create and program systems to solve a problem.

Packs of ten can also be bought at reduced prices.

Students can create e.g. traffic lights, a carousel, a digital watch or brooch, a step-o-meter, a fitness tracker, a toxic gas detector, a greenhouse IoT controller, a chatbot or a robot that fulfils a user's commands.

The Kitronik Inventor's Kit or kits offer a great introduction to the world of physical computing. Students can combine the micro:bit, code and electronic parts such as a sound board (to control a speaker, volume and a switch), a climate board (used to measure, pressure, temperature or humidity) or a sensor board (used to measure sound and light levels) to create real world every day practical solutions to situations and problems.

Together with a microprocessor, such as the Micro:bit, students can create e.g. traffic lights, a carousel, a digital watch or brooch, a step-o-meter, a fitness tracker, a toxic gas detector, a greenhouse IoT controller, a noise monitor, a burglar alarm, a chatbot or a robot that fulfils a user's commands. They could also create an eTextile product that uses sewable LED lights and conductive thread.

The Sphero is a robotic ball with mechanisms that can be controlled via programming. These mechanisms include 2 drive motors, lights, a gyroscope, accelerometer, and a magnetometer.

The Sphero can be programmed to roll at a given speed and head in a certain direction for a given amount of time.

Percentages, division, geometry, and patterns can be explored which reinforce students' mathematical learning.

Speed, time, and distance and their interrelationship can be explored which reinforce fundamental concepts in Physics.

Understanding program flow, variables, conditionals, procedures, and reading sensors are central to the Computing curriculum.

The Blue-Bot is a simple robotic device that younger students first learn to program. They can sequence a group of instructions to create algorithm and also develop problem-solving skills to debug their programs.

Students can use a ruler to measure how many cm the blubot moves with one step, then calculate the distance needed for the bluetbot to travel a given path.. They also learn the directions, left and right and 90 degree angles.

The Thymio is a robot that has a number of sensors and actuators that can be programmed using the VBL language in ASEBA and/or in Scratch. Note that the software environment has only been created for Windows and Mac iOS platforms.

Students learn to control backward and forward motors through code, and they can program the proximity sensors.

The Lego WeDo is a programmable robotics Lego set with bricks, sensors and motors.

Her are the programming editor app for iPADs and Androids.

Students use these to model reality, to investigate and design prototypes before building them. An example might be to discover ways a rover can be used to explore places humans cannot go then build a science rover with a motion and tilt sensors to detect objects.

Little Bits allows students to use circuits to create inventions. The circuit blocks snap together like Lego.

Students use these to model reality, to investigate and design prototypes before building them. An example might be to create a prosthetic hand, another to create a wearable device.

Twin Robotics Set allows students to use circuits to create inventions. The circuit blocks snap together like Lego and are programmable. Download the app for Android and for iPAD here.

Students use these to model reality, to investigate and design prototypes before building them. An example might be to create a prosthetic hand, another to create a wearable device.

ScratchJr is an entry-point application for young programmers. It uses a drag and drop interface to sequence and control coding blocks.

ScratchJr for iPADs and Androids can be be found here.

Students learn to sequence simple algorithms and learn about procedures - calling and responding to them to return values.

Scratch is a programming platform created by MIT professors to provide students a more visual representation of programming concepts. It is considered to be such a good teaching tool, that the French Bacc Mathematics programme now uses it to teach students important computational concepts (20% of the Mathematics curriculum)

Students learn how to use variables, operators, procedures, loops and lists to create programs to model real-life scenarios. The can use it as a prototyping tool e.g. for creating wearable devices or model a game or an app. They can also use it to demonstrate their understanding of abstract mathematical concepts.

Samuel Papert used Piaget's work in his development of the Logo programming language while at MIT. It was created to improve the way children think and solve problems. It is text-based and I have found it particularly good for introductory programming as it is very accessible to all students and provides immediate results. Students are not distracted by any bells and whistles; they just get straight into the programming challenges.

I use Logo to teach students how to draw geometrical shapes, consider the numbers of sides and how the angles change. Students invariably find their own formulae to express the turns and the angles the turtle has to make. It is great for teaching fibonacci sequences, Koch's snowflakes, Sierpinski triangles and tree fractals.

Javascript is the programming language of HTML and the Web, but now is being used beyond this scope in smart watch applications, robotics, to make art, as an image or video-editing tool, and in mobile applications.

Students use Javascript to control Spheros and micro:bits. They learn to program with it to create shapes and simple games in a browser and also to use it alongside HTML and CSS to provide interactive elements to websites.

Python is the language used to prepare students for examination as its syntax is easy to understand and the editors are very good at supporting the programmer by providing step-through visualisations of their code and highlighting syntax and possible logical errors.

Showbie is a Learning Management System which allows teachers to post detailed information about the topics under study, provide links and a lot of different practice sites. It allows students to have class discussions or evaluate each others' work. It also allows teachers to give annotated feedback on students' work.

I use Showbie to speak to all my learners as a group and/or individually. Students use this space to regularly post their work and ask me questions if they feel they need support. I always comment on students' work in Showbie and grade their work as well before transferring grades to the school's Student Management and Reporting System. Parents can opt in to observe their son or daughter's activity if they wish.