Mars Area Elementary School students are getting their first look at Dash and Dot robots, which offer an introduction to robotics and coding.

 

In their STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art Mathematics) classes, students (Grades 2-4) are just learning how to connect and use the robots. Therefore, the students are using controllers or coding to guide the Dash robots through six different stations — Alien Rescue (gripper), Ocean Clean-Up (plow), Bucket Ball (launcher), Obstacle Course, Halftime Show (coding), and Designer Zone (Lego attachments) — each of which enables them test out the robots’ various features and accessories.

 

In the Designer Zone, students can design an accessory  or tool, using Legos and Lego adapters. Some students  created whiteboard marker holders out of Legos and programmed their robots to draw special designs on a giant whiteboard.

 

The stations allow the students, who may be starting out at different skill levels, to naturally adjust to any difficulties with coding, gameplay, or scoring. And, students are already thinking of ways we can use these robots in the future for STEAM classes.

 

The Dot and Dash robots were purchased with funding from a LEFCON LLC grant. For details, call (724) 625-3161.