Episode 3

Programming Robots with SPRK Lightning Lab

Sphero has just rolled out their new programming platform and community center, Lightning Lab. With this app Sphero positions SPRK programming alongside Scratch and other web-enabled platform. With Lightning Lab, users can have access to all of their programs no matter which device they use to sign in as the programs travel with the user's profile. Lightning Lab will make it even easier to use the SPRK robot in the classroom because students can access te instructions and starter code inside of the app. Teachers can make programs available to students to help them be more successful. Sphero has just rolled out their new programming platform and community center, Lightning Lab. With this app Sphero positions SPRK programming alongside Scratch and other web-enabled platform. With Lightning Lab, users can have access to all of their programs no matter which device they use to sign in as the programs travel with the user's profile. Lightning Lab will make it even easier to use the SPRK robot in the classroom because students can access te instructions and starter code inside of the app. Teachers can make programs available to students to help them be more successful. https://sprk.sphero.com/ Creating this new platform required a new partnership, keep reading to learn about how CWIST helped make Lightning Lab a success. Sphero makes app-enabled, teachable robots. SPRK Lightning Lab hub uses CWIST’s online platform to offer a free virtual community that allows educators, students, makers and parents to communicate about their projects. To get started users download the mobile app to program their robot. They can then log into the website and browse a library of activities and share programs with the community. Activities include learning how to program Sphero robots to simulate the atomic composition of liquids and solids, the motion of orbiting planets, and over 75 other activities built by Sphero and educators around the world. Educators can set up virtual classrooms, create lessons, assign activities, view progress in real-time and review student work. “Chris and his team [CWIST] have been a paramount partner in building our community platform for SPRK,” said Bill Cullen, Sphero Product Manager. “It's going to take our business to the next level for interactivity, community participation and collaboration, scalability and down-right fun for our users.” CWIST is a leader in providing content and an online platform for the maker movement. CWIST’s platform brings maker-inspired products to students, schools and consumers, nationwide. The partnership with Sphero is the latest example of how CWIST is working with leading making manufacturers to expand its reach to educators. CWIST’s platform packages partners’ content into custom, engaging learning experiences that continually drive fresh content and value to educators and consumers. “CWIST’s goal is to support the maker movement nationwide by supplying fun, engaging, educational activities and by providing a way for educators, parents, students, children and businesses to connect with each other,” said CWIST Founder Chris Sleat. “Sphero’s programmable robots and SPRK Lightning Lab offer exciting, fun, educational experiences. The new web platform with its activity sharing, authoring and classroom management capabilities provide true value to educators and consumers.” CWIST also offers maker projects that help students create amazing things while supporting parent and teacher goals. An interactive library of maker, doer, and get-moving challenges called cwists that are created by cwist, its partners, and the cwist community. Examples include learning geometry, physics, and coding, all while shooting a robot off a ramp.

About CWIST

CWIST’s learning platform turns partner content into custom interactive learning challenges that reward users, driving sustained engagement and extending a partner’s education community. The original installation, CWIST.com, is an award-winning, free maker education website. The site offers projects help to help students make something amazing while supporting parent and teacher goals. CWIST keeps kids engaged, excited and part of a community where they can add or find great new ideas every day.

About Sphero

Sphero creates robots injected with humanity and personality. That’s what we know, what we love, and who we are. Unlike traditional toys, our robots and software are changing the way people play, learn, and explore by fusing emerging technology with the latest innovations in robotics. As the industry leader in Connected Toys, we are defining the future of fun. Playtime just got real.  

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Jeffrey Bradbury

Jeff Bradbury is a globally-recognized educator, educational broadcaster, public speaker, and entrepreneur whose powerful message has inspired thousands of educators through the TeacherCast Educational Network.