What is a Pro-Bot?

Aaaaand we're off!

What's the best way for students to learn about a new product? We believe it is through independent exploration and collaboration! To instill excitement and kick off our pilot Mrs. Cowell and I decided to get both our classes together to deliver a consistent message and learn from one another.

We began by pairing each of her students with one of mine and offering them some ice breakers to get to know one another.

We then had a whole class discussion about how we came to acquire these devices, the reasoning behind why only two classes would begin working with them, and the importance of the work we are hoping to do with their help. 








The students were tasked with developing their own set of rules and guidelines as to how the Pro-Bots should be used.



Then it was time to learn about the devices themselves. With some direction the students worked together to understand what the buttons do and how the programs may work. 

   

Initial successes: It was clear that everyone in the room was very excited about using the Pro-Bots. They were able to work together to develop rules and to figure out the function of some of the keys. It was nice to begin the pilot with students feeling successful. We are aiming to foster students' confidence and independence with programming and technology and today was an EXCELLENT start!

Initial challenges: Some challenges for this lesson were encouraging students to work well with unfamiliar partners.

We are looking forward to jumping in and facilitating a successful pilot program!

How did we get here?

As my new friend Bill hand delivered 50 Pro-Bots to Dale Street School, I knew we were in for some fun!

A few months earlier I had encountered the Pro-Bot and the Bee-Bot at the MassCUE Technology Conference. Amongst many other devices and robots the Pro-Bot stuck out to me personally because it runs independent of another device or app. I have tried integrating other robots into my classroom but always run into the same road block - We don't have the devices to run them! The Pro-Bot presented as the perfect solution to this problem. Additionally, the Pro-Bot runs on directional commands, distance commands, and degree turn commands - all of which lend themselves perfectly into the fourth and fifth grade curriculum!

Upon my return from the conference and with the support of Mr. Grenham I wrote a grant to the MCPE for these Pro-Bots at Dale Street School. The MCPE was supportive from the start and eventually voted to pass my grant proposal. With the generous funds from our amazing Medfield Coalition for Public Education, support from Mr. Grenham, the lovely Mrs. Cowell agreeing to co-pilot with me, and the help of our fabulous secretary, Martha Moon, the order was in and we were ready to program!