Spheros have arrived and students are rolling into the Challenge Lab to give them a spin. Spheros are gyroscopic robots that can be programmed remotely with a mobile device. In the Challenge Lab students program Spheros with iPads using the Lightning Lab App. The Lightning Lab App provides opportunities for students to learn about programming. The app includes a visual block-based building interface that allows to students to easily create and run programs. This app also provides activities such as the Chariot STEM Challenge and Planetary Motion. Teachers can create accounts for students and track the progress of each activity.
Mrs. Abrahamsen and Mrs. Rastelli recently had their students programming Spheros. Students have been able to develop computational thinking skills by programming Spheros to create geometrical shapes while exploring inertial measurement units and electromotive force. It has been amazing to watch students program these rolling robots.
