After its impressive streak as the most advanced humanoid from Softbank Robotics, the NAO V6 has a successor. Still pretty new to the STEM scene, the NAO V6 AI Edition is packed with amazing features and new modes for your students to explore. Whether using the presenter mode, conversation mode, or coding in C++, C#, Python, or Java, it’s perfect for STEM or CTE.
Robotics tools, in particular, are very valuable in K–12 classrooms because of the various sets of skills children can gain when coding with them. Most notably, teachers could introduce a variety of programming languages, like Scratch, Blockly, JavaScript, Swift, Python, and others—helping kids build a foundation for both their creative and technological development.
While computer code certainly can be powerful, it doesn’t necessarily have to be complex. Starting with core languages designed to ease children into coding, they’re often just as effective as those they would use in mastering more challenging elements. In fact, some of the best for helping them build a foundation are graphical or icon-based and various block-text hybrids.
Using the NAO Robot V6 to teach programming in middle or high school is very effective and it is also very valuable in helping educators connect with students who may learn differently. For these reasons (and more), the NAO V6 is great for helping both K–12 and higher education instructors facilitate innovative and high-quality STEM-based learning opportunities.
Python is an open language that’s perfect for both first-time programmers and students who have experience, empowering them to broaden their CS knowledge and abilities. It’s completely text-based and often described as a general-purpose language that’s used primarily in web development, app generation, scientific computing, and in creating graphical interfaces.
Consisting of robot arms, AI kits, and accessories, these technologies help inject additional real-world relevance and rigor into your high school STEM and CTE programs. From the Dobot Magician and AI kits to their conveyor belts and sliding rail accessories, students can truly get a feel for the world of automation, simulate AI experiences, and program robotic behaviors.
Though it’s been around for a while, Scratch remains an extremely reliable coding platform that teachers can use to introduce elementary students to programming and meet them where they are. It’s a super strong beginner-level language with a lot of functionality and was created around graphical coding to serve as a great introductory classroom option for K–8 students.
The Root coding robot is one of the most versatile classroom robots in K–12 education. With three progressing programming levels and whiteboard climbing capabilities, it provides so much authentic value for both STEAM teachers and students—even helping introduce pre-readers to coding with its multitude of fun sensors and other programmable features.
For up to nine weeks this fall, Liz and other educators will be working with hundreds of different elementary students to introduce them to new STEM opportunities, projects, and interactive assignments. The end goal involves inspiring these kids to utilize their new insights as inspiration for potentially pursuing different STEM opportunities in various industries in the future.
As we do more than ever to create equitable STEM education, we’ve really embraced coding lessons that students can access from everywhere. One robotics tool that enables this is that highly intelligent humanoid known as the NAO Robot V6 and, with the virtual version, students in middle school, high school, college, and CTE programs can code in any environment.
