Using Bluebots in the Primary school classroom Kylie

Using Blue-bots in the Primary school classroom Kylie Docherty, QSITE kdoch 8@gmail. com @kdoch 8

Workshop overview Bluebot basics Bluebot app Blue toothing it Curriculum links

Bluebot Basics: Beebots vs Bluebots • 40 commands • Uses 3 x AA batteries • Controlled with push buttons • No network capability • No interaction with app • Moves forward, backward, left, right Floor robot designed to explore computational thinking • 240 commands • Rechargeable • Controlled with either push buttons or app • Bluetooth networking • App can be used to control the bot and adds 45 degree turn, repeats and algorithm edits

Bluebot Basics: Familiarisation Move forward Go Turn left Turn right Pause Move backward Underneath the Blue-bot Clear Power – On/Off Sound – On/Off

Bluebot Basics: Challenge Activities Challenge 1: Getting in shape Challenge 2: Feed the animals Challenge 3: How far is it? Challenge 4: Alphabet fun Challenge 5: Fairytale friendship Challenge 6: Dance moves Australian Curriculum Digital Technologies P-2 Follow, describe and represent a sequence of steps and decisions (algorithms) needed to solve simple problems (ACTDIP 004)

Bluebot app: Familiarisation Settings Access explore or challenge modes Save Load Choose map Toggle draw

Bluebot app: Two modes Explore modes Challenge modes

Bluebot app: Challenges 7: Load the treasure map. Create Australian Curriculum a simple program to move the Bluebot from Digital Technologies 5 -6 the volcano to the cave. Challenge 8: Load a blank map. Use explore mode 4 to draw a hexagon using repeat and 45 degree turns. Challenge 9: Complete 4 Random challenges in challenge mode. Design, modify and follow simple algorithms represented diagrammatically and in English involving sequences of steps, branching, and iteration

Blue toothing it: Digital systems Australian Curriculum Digital Technologies 3 -4 Image from www. howitworksdaily. com Explore and use a range of digital systems with peripheral devices for different purposes, and transmit different types of data (ACTDIK 007)

Blue toothing it: Tips for the classroom Give your bluebot a name or a number in the settings part of the app Check you are connected to the correct bluebot (in settings) If there are connection problems move away from other devices and bluebots (at least 1 metre) and reestablish the connection.

Bluetoothing it: Challenges Challenge 10: Use poster paper to draw a maze for the Bluebot to travel through. Use the step by step explore mode to control the Beebot and navigate the maze. Challenge 11: Revisit Challenges 1 -6. Choose a challenge to repeat using Bluetooth.

Curriculum Links: Digital Technologies Year Level Years P-2 Years 3 -4 Years 5 -6 Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies Follow, describe and represent a sequence of steps and decisions (algorithms) needed to solve simple problems (ACTDIP 004) Design, modify and follow simple algorithms represented diagrammatically and in English involving sequences of steps, branching, and iteration (repetition) (ACTDIP 019)

Curriculum Links: Maths Traversing the number line, use masking tape to make a number line on the floor. Add an xy axis to the grid Estimate distance e. g. sit in a circle and estimate how many Bluebot steps to a friend on the other side of the circle. Color/shape recognition

Curriculum Links: Science Create a solar system map and visit the planets Create a habitat map and create an animal costume for the Bluebot Incline plane – measure Blue-bot speed on different slopes Add pics of food to the grid and have Blue-bot go to healthy foods or collect ingredients for a recipe

Curriculum Links: English • Act out a story • Letter hunt game – Draw a picture card from the stack and make the Blue-bot go to the first letter of the word. • Spell out words on an alphabet mat. Pause at each letter in a spelling word. • Sequence a story

Curriculum Links: Geography • Turn the grid into a map of the school, town or local community. Visit places on the map. • Use cardboard boxes to create a 3 D village. Have Blue-bot deliver letters to the village. • Draw a map of Australia over the grid. Visit different places on the map.

Links to more resources There are lots of Bee-bot resources online that work well with Bluebots as well. Making your classroom buzz with Bee-bots by Kristine Kopelke http: //elresources. skola. edu. mt/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/doc_669_2468_beebotguide. A 4 v 2. pdf Bee-bot activity guide by Modern Teaching Aids http: //www. teaching. com. au/resources/static/main/pdf/2015 -Bee-Bot-Activities-LR-AU. pdf Programming with Bee-bots by Barefoot Computing http: //barefootcas. org. uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Bee-Bots-1 -2 -3 -Activity-Barefoot-Computing 2. pdf