One of the biggest focuses in 21st century education is on teaching coding and computer science. When incorporating programming into instruction, however, there are also various opportunities to highlight math skills. That is because many top STEM tools feature some multi-faceted characteristics, helping to enable educators to simultaneously teach multiple skills. Starting early in life, students can develop stronger math literacies with various tech tools, including those on our store and in this post. Plus, teaching math through play is also an effective strategy and these EdTech solutions allow for just that.
Wonder Workshop's Dash Robot
The first STEAM tool we'll talk about in math education is the Dash Robot from Wonder Workshop. One of the most popular and reliable classroom robotics solutions, the Dash Robot helps educators to introduce core coding concepts as early as kindergarten. It's a great K-8 STEAM solution as well, however, enabling educators to teach much more than just coding. Of course, one of these other areas of STEAM in which it is effective is in math lessons. That is largely due to the relatively new Wonder Workshop math activities in their revamped Make Wonder LMS. There are well over 60 math-specific activities within Make Wonder and any teachers with subscriptions can access them to help students continue to build problem solving, computational thinking, and other relevant skills.
Teaching math with the Ozobot Evo
The Ozobot Evo is also great for math classes, specifically due to its ability to navigate. Oftentimes, as it is following lines, it'll come to an intersection, giving it two (or more) possible directions to rotate. There aren't any pre-programmed options within the Evo app to get the robot to choose turning left over right, however. So, the direction that it turns is essentially left up to chance, creating this excellent opportunity to illustrate probability. Children can make a prediction for which direction they believe the Evo will go most often and see if they can successfully predict its path. Teachers could also use this in discussing probability and its importance in modern math. Plus, within the OzoBlockly coding platform, students can progress to the more complex levels and incorporate mathematical concepts, like variables, functions, arrays, and more.
The Finch Robot 2.0
The next educational robot that educators could integrate in math classes is the Finch 2.0. As you know if you've explored any of our other posts, the Finch Robot 2.0 is incredibly versatile and programmable in six progressing coding languages. They include FinchBlox, BirdBlox, MakeCode, Snap!, Python, or also Java, positioning the Finch Robot as a true K-8 coding solution. When it comes to supplementing and enhancing math lessons, however, this classroom robot closely aligns with Common Core mathematics standards. On the BirdBrain Tech site, instructors can find specific robot math games and lessons for all K-8 kids. Some of the possibilities include using the Finch 2.0 to draw shapes, demonstrate a number line, and many more.
Simple math lessons with the Blue-Bot
Finally, we have the Blue-Bot, which is a great early education STEM tool. Like the others on this list, there are certainly ways for instructors to create math connections through simple projects and activities starting as early as Pre-K. When plotting out paths and programming the Blue-Bot, for example, students need to know how many steps it should move. If using the Card Mat, in particular, they might also have to measure out the number of tiles they want their robot to move. While engaged with these beginner coding lessons, students are also developing mathematical skills, like estimation, sequencing, and counting. They can also do things like practice identifying numbers, navigate mazes, and calculate how to take measurements.
So many of today’s best STEAM tools incorporate math in one way or another. These four are some of the best and can help students develop some of the most important STEAM and math skills they’ll need in the future. To grab any of them or to explore the hundreds of other STEM tools that we offer, visit our store. Be sure to follow us on Twitter/X and Instagram, too, for all of the latest in STEM education.
