Whether it’s because of a lack of good resources, lack of funds, or lack of knowing how easy it is to get started, many school and district leaders do not provide their students with CS education opportunities. Luckily, coding is becoming easier to learn, which also means it’s become easier to teach. While they may seem unlikely, here are some ways of doing so.
Coding is going to be the literacy of the 21st century as more and more of the most lucrative careers require entry-level employees to have some form of mastery. Wouldn’t it be great if there was an EdTech product that leveraged the fun parts of STEM education, like making, design, and invention, while kids learned how to code?
Generally, when maker-minded teachers and learners hear ‘Arduino,’ they tend to think of high-level devices you build yourself, write the code for and then program it to execute whatever function it is designed to complete. If you’ve heard of littleBits, however, you know that these electronic building blocks define simplicity.
We’re guessing you’re already familiar with both littleBits and the Makey Makey, but, if you’re not, you can learn a bit about them by exploring our blog and store. Basically, littleBits are electronic building blocks that each have their own specific function and allow kids to build inventions with purpose. Read on to learn more about it.
Kids these days pick up on technology fast—like, really fast. Thankfully, there are tools like the littleBits cloudBit Starter Kit that take the concepts they have learned from previous experiences and add a new twist. In this case, the cloudBit enables children to continue making, building and customizing classic littleBits projects, but with a brand new component.
The littleBits Synth Kit offers students and teachers a unique way to combine play and learning in the intermediate years of education. For students in Grades 3-6, the Synth Kit helps them exhibit extra easy music creation while they simultaneously learn the ins and outs of circuitry through project-based play.
The littleBits Space Kit, developed in collaboration with NASA, brings an aspect of interactive exploration to problem-based learning. Designed for use in junior high and high school, the Space Kit is one of the more advanced kits in the littleBits progression, but definitely one of the most exciting to use!
Want to build your own Top Secret Spy Box? Bubble-blowing bot? If you answered yes, then you need to get your hands on the littleBits Gizmos and Gadgets Kit! Designed for kids 8 and up and filled to the brim with LEGO-like, electronic building blocks, this kit will spark your child’s imagination and guarantee endless opportunities for inventing.
There’s a rising popularity, thanks to the Maker Movement and the increasing importance of STEM education, for educational toys. One of the best for engaging young learners while promoting creativity is littleBits—an electronic version of LEGO. Despite its intimidating appearance, littleBits is actually really simple to use.
