meet the bee bots

Meet the bee-bots!Meet the bee-bots!

Nicole Sprainger,Nicole Sprainger,

Catholic Education, Catholic Education, Diocese of Parramatta. Oct Diocese of Parramatta. Oct 20072007

Brainteaser!Brainteaser!

Can you re-arrange these four arrows Can you re-arrange these four arrows

to form a fifth arrow?to form a fifth arrow?

THINK time!THINK time!

Can you re-arrange these four arrows Can you re-arrange these four arrows

to form a fifth arrow?to form a fifth arrow?

What STRATEGIES did you use What STRATEGIES did you use to solve the problem?to solve the problem?

Meet the bee-bots!Meet the bee-bots!

What is a Bee-Bot?What is a Bee-Bot?

Programmable floor toy (battery operated)

Can be programmed with sequences of up to 40 commands (7 buttons – 4 directions; PAUSE, CLEAR, GO)

Moves accurately in 15cm steps

Is supported by a range of accessories (play mats; sequencing cards; software)

Play is children’s workPlay is children’s work Young children learn when they play with hands-on, concrete materials that encourage

exploration, discovery, manipulation, and active engagement.

Teachers support children’s learning in play by becoming co-playersco-players

– Enriching & extending– Guiding and supporting

SPICE: criteria for educational SPICE: criteria for educational “toys” used in directed play“toys” used in directed play

SS skill building

PP problem solving & intellectual development

II imagination and creativity

CC communication and social skills

EE ego development and self confidence

Dr John Irvine, March17, 2007

Skill BuildingSkill Building Mathematical skills. counting, navigating in space, estimating

distance and time, and working mathematically to solve problems.

Spatial Visualisation skills - the ability to mentally orientate, manipulate, track and rotate the beebot

Language Skills - especially recalling, interpreting or articulating command sequences

Design & Technology skills - interpreting a design challenge, generating solutions, making a plan, testing and evaluating

ICT Skills - using simulation software to move from concrete to representational application of the skills learnt

Problem SolvingProblem Solving

Planning

Logical thinking

Solving challenges

– Using manipulative materials/equipment

– Take Thinking time – Drawing a diagram– Making a plan– Guess and check– Acting out a problem– Keeping track

Imagination & CreativityImagination & Creativity Multi-sensory appeal to children

colourful, flashing eyes, sounds, movement

Engaging character ch’n often give the bee-bot a name and personality attributes

Can be linked to favourite stories, toys, scenarios as play mats etc Rosie’s Walk; Going on a Bear Hunt; Treasure Island Mat

Communication & Social SkillsCommunication & Social Skills

Learning is a social experience– Negotiating – Turntaking – Working co-operatively

Context for Oral language learning – especially ESL learners

Can support written language development ( narratives; procedural texts)

Ego Development & Ego Development & Self ConfidenceSelf Confidence Understanding cause and effect

Habits of mind – Questioning and posing problems – Taking responsible risks– Striving for accuracy– Task Persistence– Thinking about thinking (metacognition)

Sense of achievement when solving problems

Internal Locus of control

Getting StartedGetting Started

Teacher Think Tank Teacher Think Tank

Time to play and explore Brainstormed ideas for teaching and

learning mapped to the curriculum Established a Team Blog Deployment of Bee-Bot Bundles to

schools

Bee-Bot BundlesBee-Bot Bundles 6 Bundles currently

in use or available for loan

““PLAYTIME!”PLAYTIME!”

Open exploration using Bee-bots and mats!

Vignette 1 _ Good Shepherd

Vignette 2 _ St Bernadette’s

ETHAN’S CHALLENGE!ETHAN’S CHALLENGE!

St Bernadette’s Castle Hill

QuickTime™ and aH.264 decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Bee-bot ChallengesBee-bot Challenges

Further exploration using

“BEE-BOT CHALLENGE CARDS”

Bee-Bots DownunderBee-Bots Downunder Read lots more about student learning with the Bee-Bots in our blog

www.bee-bots-downunder.blogspot.com

Bee-Bot Software Bee-Bot Software The Bee-Bot is supported

by software

Tasks or challenges Tools for IWB Print out feature Introduces different

views including

– “Beebot cam” - eye level view

– top down / “birds-eye” view

Introducing the “Pro-bot”Introducing the “Pro-bot”Bee-bot’s big brother

Bernard Catt

from

EDUCATIONALEDUCATIONAL

EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCE

Acknowledgement:

Special thanks to Bernard Catt and Annette Kennewell

from

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

for their support for the workshop

Bee-bots : need to know more?Bee-bots : need to know more?

If you are interested in finding out more about student learning with the Bee-bots check out our

“BEE-BOTS DOWNUNDER” blog at:

http://bee-bots-downunder.blogspot.com/

For all other enquiries contact:

Nicole Sprainger, Catholic Education, Diocese of Parramatta Nicole.Sprainger@parra.catholic.edu.au