Cue Robots

We recently purchased a fleet of Cue robots - but when I first downloaded the app it seemed that students needed to create an account.  I'm not keen to encourage students to sign up to lots of different apps or devices especially if under 13.  When I work with students on Scratch we also get permission form parents before asking them to use their school email to do this.  Anyways...so I put Cue on a back shelf until I had time to play.  Today I've been playing - I found that the app does not have to be signed into.  You can be a guest and access the app.  Now need to find a way to reset the apps!

Getting back into LEGO Mindstorms

Finally digging into some LEGO Mindstorms books I've had sitting on the bookshelf for a wee while now.  I'm no coding expert...I have a fine arts degree! So I'm pretty much self taught (good old youtube). 

Already through dipping into the books I'm finding simple tips to share with my students.  In our robotics lessons and clubs I often get students who are new to LEGO Mindstorms to follow instructions and build a basic robot.  I explain how the numbers on the building instruction link to the numbers on card in the kit's box.  Never knew you could measure the axles against the beams #love-small-things.  I also loved the diagram describing the pins.  I'm going to make cards for the students to help them.
   

This will help them two fold; when they first start I get them to build robots following simple instructions the idea being they get use to the 'tools' and how they work, then when they have gains confidence and experience before creating their own.  We also remix robots that we have built from instructions; i.e. combing different parts from different robots.  Embrace the remix!