Loops, conditionals and variables work in much the same way. Both my daughter and I found Sphero Edu easy to work with – although it’s arguably easier to get a grounding in Scratch then transfer the skills over, than to start working with Sphero Edu from day one. Go #BeyondCode and enrich your learning experience with engaging STEAM activities that foster creativity and collaboration.

Risk-taking, leaping, trying again, and failing are part of our genetic material. Without it, humans would not have inhabited every corner of this planet. Oftentimes we can see failure, particularly in exams, as negative — one of the worst things we can allow students to experience. But what if we allow students to fail in a safe space and make learning a personal endeavor?While the Bolt can be driven around with a touchscreen controller in the Sphero Edu app, it’s really designed to be programmed, responding to commands that tell it where to move at what speed and in which direction, how to rotate and when and how to flash its built-in LED lights. The Sphero BOLT charging cradle is specifically designed to be compatible with BOLT only because the battery capacity of BOLT is higher than previous Sphero models, and therefore the charging system works differently from previous robots. It is not d Condensation Inside Sphero BOLT If you aren’t familiar with Scratch, it’s very similar in concept to IFTTT (If This Then That): you set out your criteria – the 'this' – and then specify what should happen – the 'that'. For example, you might create a set of instructions that asks if it’s dark and lights up the screen if the answer is yes. MIT has a complete guide and examples. There was a lot you could do – and a lot you could teach – with the older SPRK+, but the Bolt opens up a range of new opportunities. The Bolt’s high-speed zooming around the floor is entertaining enough, the new graphics, animations and text messages make the results of all that coding even more immediate and visual.

HANDS-ON STEAM: Engage your students in hands-on play and STEAM activities while teaching them how to code with Sphero BOLT. Condensation (water droplets) inside Sphero BOLT may occasionally form - this is normal, and you do not need to worry. This sometimes happens during the second half of the charging cycle or during heavy use when the robot can heat up. The condensatio Prolonging BOLT Battery Life (Deep Sleep) Get a few Bolts together and you can create some pretty cool multi-robot spectaculars, although with just the one Bolt we haven’t had much of a chance to try this out. INSPIRE CREATIVITY AND DISCOVER POSSIBILITIES: With Sphero BOLT's advanced programmable sensors and 8x8 LED matrix, your students can explore the world of coding and robotics with hands-on, creative play, while discovering endless possibilities.If there’s one ever so minor disappointment, it’s that there’s no onboard sound. While you can code in sound effects and even tunes, these play through your tablet or smartphone speaker, rather than through the Bolt. Get ready to add some excitement to your classroom with Sphero BOLT – the ultimate coding robotic ball! Designed for educators who want to inspire their students' curiosity in STEM, Sphero BOLT is a game-changing tool that empowers students to explore their creativity, coding skills, and inventiveness. With its advanced sensors, programmable LED matrix, and innovative technology, Sphero BOLT is the perfect way to integrate some fun into learning and make your classroom a place where students can't wait to explore! The downside is that a bigger battery needs longer to charge, so while playtime is twice that of previous Spheros so is the charge time. Expect around six hours to fully charge from a flat battery. Features The more you learn about the Bolt, and the more you think about what you’ve learnt, the more new projects open up. The built-in projects and tutorials do a fine job of developing your skills and getting you used to the new capabilities, although you really need a separate PC or tablet to work with so that you can have the projects and sample code visible on another screen while you’re working in the app. If you’re looking for a way to encourage a more active engagement with technology, this will prove a hundred times better than most tech toys and kid-friendly gadgets. Verdict

The Sphero Bolt is beautifully engineered, very clever and tons of fun, and it’s clearly going to be a very valuable tool in an educational environment. However, if you’re considering it for your home it does seem like an awful lot of money for something that’s likely to display rude words as it careers into your ankles.A second app, Sphero Play, is also available in the various app stores for touch-based navigation and general messing around. Parents beware: there’s a Scream Drive setting in that one that makes the Bolt move faster the louder your child screams or shouts at it. You can also use Swift Playgrounds, which offers two Sphero playgrounds: Sphero Arcade and Sphero Template. Using information available, combined with skills acquired, can help make good decisions. That’s the basic process of critical thinking. Critical thinkers can solve problems by keeping a clear mind and rational thoughts that will help you analyze a situation and make a sound decision. STEM teaching is the hands-on exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts, and it’s becoming an increasingly important part of modern-day education. STEM skills grant students the 21st-century abilities needed to perform a wide range of both essential and highly-skilled jobs.

Her favourite feature? “The display. The coolest thing is that you can put wee animations on the light, fading colours into different ones.” Verdict The mode has some nice mod-cons, such as auto-formatting and error-reporting, while you can view the incoming sensor data both during and after running a program. This helps when you’re trying to adjust speeds and timings or debug. Sphero BOLT has a bigger battery compared to previous Sphero models, and therefore takes a bit longer to charge. Follow these simple steps to get charged up!. TROUBLE SHOOTING:. If your BOLT does not look like it is charging, please try the following Connecting BOLT Anytime your robot is not in use, we recommend putting your robot into deep sleep and keeping it off the charging base. For the best way to maintain your battery, prior to putting the robot into deep sleep, we recommend first running the battery down BOLT at Home Guide Sphero makes remarkably cool, programmable robots and STEAM-based educational tools that transform the way kids learn, create and invent through coding, science, music, and the arts.

Coding-focused playtime

CROSS-CURRICULAR LEARNING: Sphero BOLT is perfect for cross-curricular learning, combining STEM and the arts to encourage creativity and innovation in your classroom. With access to an extensive library of educational games and activities found in the free Sphero Edu App (compatible with iOS, Android, and Chrome), your students can learn how to code in an engaging and interactive way. If you have bought an item from us that proves to be faulty, please let us know as soon as the fault becomes apparent so we are able to help. Try this activity in the Sphero Edu app to get started: Beyond the Square Programming BOLT’s Lights and Sounds The new infrared sensors – and matching emitters – come into their own if you have more than one Bolt. These enable one Bolt to message another, and you can then use conditionals to state what happens when that message is received. That’s the biggest plus for the Bolt over the SPRK+, but you shouldn’t underestimate the new sensors. For instance, you can use the light sensor to have the SPRK+ react to different ambient light levels, or to respond when you shine a torch on it. You can, if more navigationally minded, use the new compass to take exact directions and help the Bolt find its way from one point in the room to another, even around obstacles or through a maze.