Using Blue-bots in the Primary school classroom Kylie Docherty,

Workshop overview Bluebot basics Bluebot app Blue toothing it Curriculum links

Bluebot Basics: Beebots vs Bluebots 40 commands Uses 3 x AA batteries Controlled with push buttons No network capability No interaction with app Moves forward, backward, left, right 240 commands Rechargeable Controlled with either push buttons or app Bluetooth networking App can be used to control the bot and adds 45 degree turn, repeats and algorithm edits Floor robot designed to explore computational thinking

Bluebot Basics: Familiarisation Underneath the Blue-bot Power – On/Off Sound – On/Off Move forward Turn right Go Turn left Clear Move backward Pause

Bluebot Basics: Challenge Activities  Challenge 1: Getting in shape  Challenge 2: Feed the animals  Challenge 3: How far is it?  Challenge 4: Alphabet fun  Challenge 5: Fairytale friendship  Challenge 6: Dance moves Australian Curriculum Digital Technologies P-2 Follow, describe and represent a sequence of steps and decisions (algorithms) needed to solve simple problems (ACTDIP004)

Bluebot app: Familiarisation Settings Access explore or challenge modes Save Load Choose map Toggle draw

Bluebot app: Two modes Explore modes Challenge modes

Bluebot app: Challenges  Challenge 7 : Load the treasure map. Create a simple program to move the Bluebot from the volcano to the cave.  Challenge 8 : Load a blank map. Use explore mode 4 to draw a hexagon using repeat and 45 degree turns.  Challenge 9 : Complete 4 Random challenges in challenge mode. Australian Curriculum Digital Technologies 5-6 Design, modify and follow simple algorithms represented diagrammatically and in English involving sequences of steps, branching, and iteration (repetition) (ACTDIP019)

Blue toothing it: Digital systems Australian Curriculum Digital Technologies 3-4 Explore and use a range of digital systems with peripheral devices for different purposes, and transmit different types of data (ACTDIK007) Image from

Blue toothing it: Tips for the classroom  Give your bluebot a name or a number in the settings part of the app  Check you are connected to the correct bluebot (in settings)  If there are connection problems move away from other devices and bluebots (at least 1 metre) and re-establish the connection.

Bluetoothing it: Challenges  Challenge 10 : Use poster paper to draw a maze for the Bluebot to travel through. Use the step by step explore mode to control the Beebot and navigate the maze.  Challenge 11 : Revisit Challenges 1-6. Choose a challenge to repeat using Bluetooth.

Curriculum Links: Digital Technologies Year LevelAustralian Curriculum: Digital Technologies Years P-2Follow, describe and represent a sequence of steps and decisions (algorithms) needed to solve simple problems (ACTDIP004) Years 3-4Follow, describe and represent a sequence of steps and decisions (algorithms) needed to solve simple problems (ACTDIP004) Years 5-6Design, modify and follow simple algorithms represented diagrammatically and in English involving sequences of steps, branching, and iteration (repetition) (ACTDIP019)

Curriculum Links: Maths  Traversing the number line, use masking tape to make a number line on the floor.  Add an xy axis to the grid  Estimate distance e.g. sit in a circle and estimate how many Blue-bot steps to a friend on the other side of the circle.  Color/shape recognition

Curriculum Links: Science  Create a solar system map and visit the planets  Create a habitat map and create an animal costume for the Blue-bot  Incline plane – measure Blue-bot speed on different slopes  Add pics of food to the grid and have Blue-bot go to healthy foods or collect ingredients for a recipe

Curriculum Links: English Act out a story Letter hunt game – Draw a picture card from the stack and make the Blue-bot go to the first letter of the word. Spell out words on an alphabet mat. Pause at each letter in a spelling word. Sequence a story

Curriculum Links: Geography Turn the grid into a map of the school, town or local community. Visit places on the map. Use cardboard boxes to create a 3D village. Have Blue-bot deliver letters to the village. Draw a map of Australia over the grid. Visit different places on the map.

Links to more resources There are lots of Bee-bot resources online that work well with Blue-bots as well.  Making your classroom buzz with Bee-bots by Kristine Kopelke content/uploads/2010/06/doc_669_2468_beebotguideA4v2.pdf content/uploads/2010/06/doc_669_2468_beebotguideA4v2.pdf  Bee-bot activity guide by Modern Teaching Aids  Programming with Bee-bots by Barefoot Computing Computing2.pdf Computing2.pdf