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Activities
Arduino Education| WeDo | |
WeDo is a new concept in educational robotics. The LEGO Education WeDo platform, combined with the NI LabView software, offers a fun way to start the construction and programming of robots, sensors using simple and basic pieces that connect to computer. While the MINDSTORMS NXT is focused on older than 8 years, with WeDo we can advance the starting age.   LEGO Education WeDo encourages teachers to launch challenges based on the curriculum that students must solve. Working together, the children invent their own solutions by building LEGO models and programming to perform certain tasks.
The robotic concept of LEGO Education WeDo is to provide an easy-to-use set that provides a practical introduction to robotics. Students build LEGO models with motors and sensors, connect to the computer and use a simple programming tool for configuring behavior. They also work a number of curricular activities that address various issues and develope their scientific, technological, engineering, mathematics, language and literature knowledge.
Curriculum objectives:
LEGO Education suggests that age to start with WeDo robotics to be 7 years. Unfortunately the use of WeDo margin falls a bit short when compared with the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: it is very likely that a child does not want to work with WeDo at age 14 if he can do so with the NXT, NXT does not have upper age limit. With the NXT we can adapt the design complexity in terms of knowledge, good mechanics, algorithms, programming, etc. That said, we can be a little more aggressive on the age of starting with WeDo in order for it to be profitable within a longer time. This advancement must be accompanied by the adult help while performing the exercises. This, which is obvious in the classroom with the help of a teacher, at particular level requires a little effort on the part of parents, children appreciate the shared experience and, on the other hand, the way WeDo presents the different activities make it attractive enough to draw the attention of children.  While the big initial disadvantage of this set was its price, since apart from the small number of parts, software programming came apart from the teaching guide, LEGO Education fortunately realized this problem and reacted: Now with the software it is included a free bonus CD with the Quick Guide, assembly instructions, an activity taken from the pack of activities, an introduction to WeDo, etc. As an alternative to official software, we can also work with WeDo making use of Scratch. Additional information:
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Learning based on the relationship between cause and effect is reinforced by the models that remain connected to the computer while the children, who work as little scientists in his lab can test and adjust their programs in real time, at the time. After reflecting on what worked or did not, students can consult with peers, adapt the program, touch the models or begin again.
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