Technology Hardware for the Classroom

A great piece of technology hardware to use in the classroom or the library is Lego Mindstorms. This technology allows students to see how coding can look in a physical object. 



According to Lego, the Lego Mindstorms Education EV3 is, "a hands-on, cross-curricular STEM solution that engages students by providing the resources to design, build and program their creations while helping them develop essential skills such as creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. A Core Set supports two students and comes with a getting-started guide, video tutorials, and standards-aligned lesson plans. An eLearning program is included for educators."

This technology would fall into the "redefinition" section of the SAMR model because students are using skills to create a new product. Students design, build, and showcase their abilities using this technology. Students would have previously learned some about coding and now they are to demonstrate how to use that to overcome the challenges faced when using the Mindstorm. 


Students start by using software to create a string of code, whether using colored blocks for beginners, or writing their own code for more advanced coding students. Then that code is transferred via USB cable to the Mindstorm Brick. Once the code is on the brick, it can be applied to several Lego Mindstorm Builds including different types of robots. The nice thing about Lego Mindstorm is that it can be very basic for beginners and by following the provided guidelines, but it can also be advanced by allowing students to create their own robots of their own design.

Lego breaks down their Mindstorm into three simple steps:

            "Create: Build your robot using the LEGO elements, motors, and intelligent sensors included in               the set. 

              Command: Program your robot in the intuitive icon-based programming interface. Drag and                  drop the actions that you want into the programming window and adjust them to suit your                      robot’s behavior. 

              Go! Once you have built and programmed your robot, it’s time to play!"

This technology seems very intimidating for educators to tackle, especially if they don't have a strong background in coding or robotics, but Lego has a lot of resources on how to use their technology. From getting started, to how-to's, to video tutorials, they cover everything. Lego even includes classroom materials and lesson plans. You can find that information here. 

This introduction to programming page from Carnegie Mellon University is also a great resource for teachers and librarians wanting to implement this tech. 


References

MINDSTORMS EV3 Support | Everything You Need | LEGO® Education. (2023). Retrieved 20 February 2023, from https://education.lego.com/en-us/product-resources/mindstorms-ev3/teacher-resources/python-for-ev3 


SAMR iPadagogy Wheel - Music Tech Integrate. (2023). Retrieved 20 February 2023, from https://sites.google.com/site/musictechintegrate/samr/ipadagogy-wheel. [photo].


University, C. (2023). Introduction to Programming - LEGO® MINDSTORMS EV3 - Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy - Carnegie Mellon University. Retrieved 20 February 2023, from https://www.cmu.edu/roboticsacademy/roboticscurriculum/Lego%20Curriculum/EV3-Intro.html 



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