1. Explore, Play and learn with Ozobots
Thank you for coming along today to explore, play and learn with Ozobots.
I was introduced to Ozobots at the beginning of last year when I assisted Nicolette Venn from Digital Careers with one of her Ozobot workshops. She has given me permission to share what is largely her work with you today. This will be a hands-on workshop that aims to showcase the main features of the Ozobot in a way that gives you confidence to explore the use of Ozobots in your classrooms.
I am a high school teacher at Mansfield State High School teaching Digital Technologies, Programming and IPT across Years I am an active member of the QSITE Brisbane Community and have run workshops for primary school and high school teachers, organized a number of teachmeets and organized, mentored and presented at CS4HS workshops. I am also a lead mentor for CoderDojo and always looking for activities to help students engage with computational thinking and coding.
Ozobots are often used in Primary and sometimes in Secondary classes. Can I have a show of hands who has a Primary school focus ….. And Secondary? … other? …
Kylie Docherty, QSITE
@kdoch8

2. Video removed due to size restrictions
The Ozobot is a tiny robot that expands STEM and computer science learning through a collection of game based activities and applications. It uses easy to understand colour based coding symbols that is a great way to introduce students to coding in a creative and fun way.
Next is a portion of a YouTube clip of a child explaining the Ozobot.
Play to 3.29min of clip only – End at “So get creative”
Some students love technology and others are harder to engage. The kids that want to learn to code need little motivation to engage in computational thinking and programming but those that lack confidence need something simple and engaging to encourage them as they take their first steps.
The simplicity of the Ozobot and the code it uses are very simple. It provides students with the opportunity for success and a chance to replicate that success.
But it also provides challenges that require investigation and tinkering.
The concepts that make the Ozobot work are replicated in more complex activities, so this is a good starting place for some students.

3. The keys to engaging students (and adults) with the Ozobots:
Explore
Play
Learn
The keys to engaging students (and adults) with the Ozobots:
Explore – it is key that students have the opportunity to explore the Ozobot and its capabilities – so sessions shouldn’t be too structured. This will mean that there will be things that don’t work – and that is okay! Trial and error is an important part of the learning process – having the resources available that will aid trouble shooting will be key to the sessions.
Play – Providing unstructured (or minimally structured) time in sessions will give students an opportunity to play with the Ozobots. Play can be on or offline – the Ozobots work with pen and paper or on a tablet device. There are a number of resources online that can be printed and used with pens and paper and lots of challenges built into the tablet and web apps. The Ozobots can be programmed to dance, race, solve puzzles or tell stories. The possibilities are quite broad.
Learn – The Ozobot is a great tool to introduce students to concepts within coding such as understanding and applying code and sequencing, as well as tinkering, persistence, tolerance, communication and confidence without overwhelming them with a structured format.

4. Visual Coding OzoBots (ozobot.com)
On you table you will have the following:
Ozobots – one each/small group
Butchers Paper
Pens
3 sheets – 1 x Map; 1 x Codes; 1 x Tips

5. Activity 1
Explore
On your table you will have butchers paper, pens, an Ozobot and 3 sheets
You need to:
Turn the Ozobot on
Calibrate the Ozobot
Create a simple path for the Ozobot to follow
Make the Ozobot’s light change colour
I would like you to take the Ozobot out of the box along with the black dot.
The Ozobot relies on the accuracy of the sensors (at the bottom of the Ozobot). To be sure that your Ozobot is working we are going to calibrate the Ozobot.
Turn the Ozobot on – provide instruction
Turn the Ozobot off and then set it for calibration (hold the on button down for 2 seconds or until the light flashes white)
Place the Ozobot on the dot – it will move toward an edge and will be calibrated when it flashes green
Now that you have calibrated the Ozobot please use the paper and pens to create a simple path for the Ozobot and make the light change colour.
NOTES:
Possible problems:
Calibrating the Ozobot – not always as easy as it looks
Lines – right width (6mm), corners too tight, lines too close together
Colours – too dark (little to distinguish between the colours e.g. blue and black)
This should take 10 min max

6. Activity 2 Play Using the Ozobot code sheet
Create a simple path for the Ozobot to follow that incorporates four different codes
Speed
Direction
Timer
Cool moves
If you are having difficulty please refer to the Tips page
Now that you have successfully completed this, please move on to create a map for the Ozobot that will include the following codes:
Speed
Direction
Times
Cool moves
NOTES:
Possible problems:
Lines – right width (6mm), corners too tight, lines too close together
Colours – too dark (little to distinguish between the colours e.g. blue and black)\
Codes
Not the right width, differing widths, too close to corners or junctions
The Ozobot doesn’t always do what the code requires
This is due to the scan rate of the Ozobot.
The Ozobot scans the lines (or the programming) twice in very short succession to “read” the code (think of this as Scan 1: red; Scan 2: red) if the two scans don’t align (if the alignment is a little bit out and the first scan happens too late only reading the colour once) then the Ozobot may not read the codes consistently.
This should take 10 min max

7. Small group discussions
Problem solving
Did you have any trouble getting the Ozobot to do what you wanted it to?
List out what you had trouble with and how you solved it
Compare this with the group on either side of you
What issues similar to these might be holding your students back with other technology
NOTES:
Possible problems:
Calibrating the Ozobot – not always as easy as it looks
Lines – right width (6mm), corners too tight, lines too close together
Colours – too dark (little to distinguish between the colours e.g. blue and black)\
Codes
Not the right width, differing widths, too close to corners or junctions
The Ozobot doesn’t always do what the code requires
This is due to the scan rate of the Ozobot.
The Ozobot scans the lines (or the programming) twice in very short succession to “read” the code (think of this as Scan 1: red; Scan 2: red) if the two scans don’t align (if the alignment is a little bit out and the first scan happens too late only reading the colour once) then the Ozobot may not read the codes consistently.

8. Activity 3 Turn your best activity 2 solution into a challenge:
Using the black pen only draw the connecting lines but leave blanks for another group to complete the colour codes.
Add creative hints using pictures or text along the path so that it tells a story.
Swap sheets with another group and discuss different ways of solving the challenge.
You will have 5 min to develop your challenge and 5 min to solve another group’s challenge.
Discuss your solution with the other group.
NOTES:
This activity is around engagement and the “processes” of the teachers working together – so collaboration, tinkering, sequencing, etc.

9. Small group discussions
How could this activity be adapted to explore learning in a specific unit?
Recount of an excursion, story or process
Add the correct code to turn towards the correct answer to a maths problem
This activity could be used to solve a maze such as feeding the animals in a zoo or mapping a path from home to school.

10. Drop and Drag Coding OzoBlockly (ozoblockly.com)
The Ozobot can also be programmed using Ozoblockly. This is a drop and drag style programming similar to Scratch.
For this section I am going to go over a few basics before we move on to how the programming works.
Can you please let me know who has done any work with Scratch and feels confident with their skills?
Thank you – when we get to the activities you may if you wish look through the higher level of Ozoblockly instead of working on the activities.
For this next section (before we get to the activities) I am going to show you how the Ozobot loads programs and we are going test this.
Please get your laptops or tablets out for the next section and open a browser to ozoblockly.com
When you have this open please select Level 2 and “Get Started”
You should get a page similar to this, with no code.
Explain the page:
On the left are the sections of “code” that is available – Movement, Light Effects; Timing and Loops
On the right are the tabs that you can refer to for further information – i.e. Examples, Challenges, etc.
In the centre is the section that you will work on your code, with options on the bottom right – Open, Save, Un-do, Re-do, Copy and Delete
On the far left corner you will find the button to “Load” the Ozobot

11. I would like you to go to Examples, select and load the first example.
Your page should look like this.
I then want you to click on “Load Ozobot”

12. Your page should now look like this.
We are going to calibrate the Ozobot for your device.
Ensure the brightness of you device is at its highest (the Ozobot doesn’t work well in the dark)
Activate the Ozobot shape at the bottom of the screen (click or touch to do so)
Hold the “on” button on until the light flashes green – similar to how we did it earlier – and hold the Ozobot to the Ozobot shape. The Ozobot should flash and the light turn green
Turn the Ozobot back on and hold the Ozobot to the Ozobot shape and click “Load”. The Ozobot should flash green (only) when it is successfully loading
When it is finished it will give you instructions on how to “play”
Please go ahead – if you have any difficulties please let me know
NOTES:
Possible problems
The code hasn’t been loaded on screen for the upload to happen
The Ozobot needs to be recharged

13. Click on code – will drop on to

15. Activity 4 Explore Create your own: Load and run your sequence
Create a simple path for the Ozobot
E.g. Move forward 5 steps, turn left
Make the Ozobot’s light change colour
Set the Ozobot to pause
Repeat at least once
Load and run your sequence
For this activity I want you to clear the code on your screen (use the trash can) and using the “code” sections and create a program that will use the four points on the slide.

18. Activity 5 Play Go to Challenges Select the Slot Car Race Track
Using the handouts (instructions & map) create a program for your Ozobot
Load and run your sequence
Possible problems:
Lines – right width (6mm), corners too tight, lines too close together
Colours – too dark (little to distinguish between the colours e.g. blue and black)\
Codes – not the right width, differing widths, too close to corners or junctions
This should take 20 min max

19. Summing up References: www.digitalcareers.edu.au
Explore
Technology
Possibilities
Play
Challenges
Peer support
Learn
Reflect
Extend
Children learn best when they are having fun. For students stressed out about learning to code Ozobots are a fun way to explore and play with computational thinking concepts at the student’s own pace. Teachers can provide guidance and support and look for opportunities to encourage students to reflect on their learning and extend students when they are ready.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you very quickly about Ozobots.
I would be very happy to share with you any other details or information after this session.
References: