My students have always been completely mesmerized by the power of Cubelets, modular robots that adhere magnetically and can be put together in a seemingly endless number of combinations. Obtaining enough Cubelets to feed the curiosity of a large group can get expensive, but we were fortunate enough to get some grant applications approved that … Read more
It seems like just yesterday when our class was asked to beta test a new product from a company called Tangible Play. It was a tangram game that integrated physical pieces with an app on your iPad using a special base and mirror. Our students even got to teleconference with the developers to give feedback on … Read more
My students have loved using the Dash robots from Wonder Workshop so much that I thought they might enjoy some extra time with them over the summer. So, earlier this year, I devised a plan for an Undercover Robots Camp to be held at my house. Last week was the first session, “Spy School.” Using … Read more
Thanks to my unquenchable Kickstarter addiction, we have a new addition to our classroom called, “Bloxels.” Bloxels will look familiar to those of you who have used the free Pixel Press “Floors” app on your iPads. For that app, you can design video games using paper and the library of symbols provided, scan your design, … Read more
As I continue this year’s Gifts for the Gifted series, I should re-iterate a few things. First of all, these recommendations are for all children – not just those identified as “Gifted and Talented.” Secondly, these gifts will be much more meaningful to their recipients if the gift-giver follows through by enjoying the gift along with the … Read more
One of the apps that I recommend frequently is Hopscotch. This free iOS app has been one of my all-time favorite creation tools ever since we tried it a few years ago during Hour of Code. Using block programming that is similar to Scratch, Hopscotch allows users to create works of art, games, and even … Read more