Help me give my students the opportunity to learn to code through a unique and fairly inexpensive format. Sphero is a mini app controlled robot where students will code its movements to achieve specific coding challenges.
My middle school students are a wonderful mix of creative, athletic, emotionally healthy free thinkers. These 7th and 8th graders are just now coming to terms with the complexities of life and are learning what academic areas they truly feel passionate about.
These students are in the process of becoming life-long explorers of the world as well as students who leave middle school enjoying STEM related activities.
They have become fearless when it comes to technological activities and are looking for better ways in which they can gain better perspective for the real world.
I am the 7th and 8th grade math teacher at my school and I offer 3 different sections of math depending on ability and effort. Our public/charter school allows our classes to cap out at around 22, which gives these students much more opportunity to get the one on one attention they need. Many of these children participate in my after school coding club where they learn the basics of computer languages. Overall, these students take the opportunities available to them, and find ways within the year to show their appreciation in various surprising ways.
My Project
I have been a middle school math teacher for 6 years. A few years ago I decided to take on an after school coding club which is offered to 5-8th grade students. These kids are fast learners and are quickly passing my abilities and expertise and are craving a new challenge.
Sphero Mini Robot is an exciting new challenge that can help students learn to code JavaScript and view direct results of their practice.
Students will download the "Sphero Play" or "Sphero EDU" app on their Chromebooks at school which will allow the students to program specific challenges like, maze running, hide and seek activities, bowling and much more.
It is hard enough to get middle school students excited about learning, but this seems like a great way to open doors for students whose interests lie beyond basic video game or online focused coding activities. The ability to watch a specific challenge be achieved, will give my students a unique opportunity to learn to love coding.
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