Tech Age Kids Local CODING ROBOTS ELECTRONICS MINECRAFT CROWDFUNDING Image Credit: LEGO Education via Business Wire LEGO have announced LEGO WeDo 2.0, a new version of their popular educational robotics kits at CES. These sets are widely used in primary schools for the teaching of STEM, coding and robotics. The range was due an update. The original version came out in 2009. Although LEGO WeDo is primarily sold to schools it's also popular with some families. Some schools will be deciding whether to upgrade their kits or possibly add more of the older version for consistency. Let's take a look at what LEGO WeDo is and the differences between the 1.0 and 2.0 kits. What is LEGO WeDo? LEGO WeDo is pretty costly for the hardware that you get, but it's also fantastic. The use of LEGO makes the sets really flexible as well as appealing to children. The kits are durable and include practical storage and the educational materials make LEGO WeDo readily usable in schools that may not have a lot of technical expertise available.
Note that WeDo is not compatible with LEGO Mindstorms. WeDo 2.0 uses connection technology that is compatible with future LEGO Power Functions products so there may be future interoperability there. The LEGO pieces in WeDo 1.0 use primary colours whereas the WeDo 2.0 bricks have a more modern and fresh colour schemes with brighter green, blue and yellow shades. The What's in the Box Video for LEGO WeDo shows the new pieces in detail: LEGO WeDo 2.0 has tablet software as well as a PC version. We're pleased to see support for Android as well as iPads. Chromebook support is coming soon which will be important for a lot of schools. The software is included this time which is a good move. The drag and drop software is actually much better suited to a touchscreen device. The app is available to download for free and works really well. It has video tutorials (no voice overs, it does have music so in a classroom you'd need to get all the kids to mute their devices.) There's a built-in documentation tool where kids can make notes and store photos and videos.
You can find the app on Google Play or iTunes (there are Start and FULL editions), and you can register to try the PC software for free. LEGO have also said that Scratch support will be coming out in 2016, first for Macs and then for Windows. This is very good news. LEGO WeDo 2.0 includes a basic getting started project. You can also purchase over 40 hours of educational material including starter projects, guided activities and open activities. There's lots of STEM focused material and also computing content. The packaging varies between countries to tie in with the local curriculum. With 2.0 the models can move around more as they aren't tethered to a USB port and the new material takes advantage of this. The LEGO WeDo 2.0 content reflects modern primary school computing terminology and themes and feels much more up to date. My kids (aged 7 and 9) really like the look of the models. In the LEGO WeDo 2.0 'What's in the box' video we find out that Milo the robot model that features in the promotional material is male, this seems a shame.
I guess LEGO didn't read our article on whether girls and boys need different tech toys. The new projects do include girl and boy characters called Mia and Max (though Max always get the first mention in the material I've seen.) Regular readers of Tech Age Kids will know that I'm rather obsessed with storage for robots and electronics kits. It's so important not to lose pieces in a kit like this. Sources: Press Release, LEGO WeDo 2.0 FAQs More from Tech Age Kids: HI This is The Brand Promoted Find us on Facebook LEGO® Education WeDo Robotics in Your Homeschool "You should get him into LEGO Robotics." I can't tell you how many times people have told me that, but truthfully, it confused me. A couple of years ago I enrolled Grant in a camp where we he built LEGO models using a program called WeDo. The camp was nearly an hour away, not to mention it was costly. He had a GREAT time, but we only did two sessions because it just wasn't feasible for our family.
Lo and behold, through my amazing partnership with LEGO® Education I have the great joy of receiving and using truly wonderful products - and this time it is WeDo Robotics. *Disclaimer: I have received this producation from LEGO® Education in exchange for my honest review {but you already know I'm going to love it!}. I know many of you might see LEGO® Education products and think they are just for the traditional school market, but nothing could be further from the truth! (Check out all of the products we have used in our homeschool so far!) The LEGO® Education WeDo Robotics has been a perfect addition to our homeschool this year. This robotics curriculum is designed for ages 7-12. (In our experience, my 8 year old was able to build the models and run the computer all by himself!) "Students build simple machines featuring working motors and sensors and program their models using special WeDo Software." There are 12 different models that can be built, in four different themes:
The set we received comes with a tub of bricks, motors, sensors, and special parts - and also the WeDo sofware and Teacher's Guide. The WeDo learning process is based on four Cs: Connect, Construct, Contemplate, and Continue. How Does It Work In Your ? We opened all of our materials and of course Grant was SO excited to just BUILD something. I let him experiment with the bricks and all of the pieces of the first several days. After that, we sat down and installed the software. This was as easy as putting the disc in the computer. Each model has physical instructions for building, but also the instructions are included on the software. Each model/project starts with the two on the screen (Max & ). A brief clip is presented so your children can CONNECT this new learning experience to one they have had previously with another build. Grant loved these little clips - they are engaging and funny. Next, he would CONSTRUCT the model. It takes you through the process step by step and is very achievable for this age level.
If he got stuck at a certain point he would check the physical booklet for help. Programming the model is quite simple - a sample is given on screen, and once your child is more familiar with what the different buttons do, they will begin experimenting in all kinds of ways! Then, after model has been built, it is time to CONTEMPLATE why things worked they way they did and for further experimentation. (Grant has already learned so much about gears, pulleys, and sensors!) Finally, your child is invited to CONTINUE their learning with more experimentation and a challenge to build and program more complex interactions. These are just a couple of our examples! (You will notice I have a bit of a ham on my hands.) This first model is the lion - Grant learned all about a tilt sensor in this build. This model is the alligator. It uses a motion sensor in the alligator's mouth. This was was a TON of fun! If I were just starting out on this LEGO journey with a child I would invest in LEGO® Education products.