This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sphero. The opinions and text are all mine.
My first job after graduating was as a programmer for a bank, I had very little coding experience at that point as back then children weren’t taught to code as part of the curriculum. I’ve watched with interest how coding based apps have made coding a skill that everyone from young children to inexperienced adults can master and enjoy. I’ve also spent time over the last two years teaching coding as part of a lunchtime club to 6 and 7 year olds and been hugely impressed and surprised at how quickly children with no previous exposure to coding learn when using apps and tools which utilise the incredible power of play based learning. I’m now very excited at the possibility of running a similar club using Sphero Edu as I think the results will be even more impressive.
What is Sphero SPRK+ ?
The Sphero SPRK+ Robot is a small ball that can be easily programmed to race around a circuit, change colour, run through water and much, much more. The possibilities and interactive learning opportunities both in a classroom and home environment are endless. One simple example is this K’NEX frame we created for our SPRK+. Initially the plan was to cushion the robot from walls but then we added a finger part so SPRK + could knock down our dominos. What do you think?
SPRK+ looks amazing with changing colour lights and the fact that you can see the mechanism inside instantly appealed to my son who likes to know how things work.
Coding with Sphero SPRK+
An iPhone or Android Sphero Edu app is used to create code for Sphero which pairs with an iPad, tablet, iPhone, or smartphone via Bluetooth, a couple of little taps on Sphero wakes it up and it pairs straight away. Once it turns blue you’re ready to start. Setting up Sphero SPRK+ is super quick and easy, we were ready to code in just a couple of minutes.
I have seen first hand how much children love to code with programs like scratch, but Sphero Edu takes coding to a whole new level with its use of robotics and the ability to combine coding with hands on STEAM activities harnessing the boundless power of a child’s imagination and utilising real world concepts and experiences.
The Edu app allows users to create code by drawing, using blocks of code or by writing javascript making it a brilliant resource for everyone from beginners to expert coders. Sphero Edu allows children to learn to code in an approachable, engaging and exciting manner at a level that’s right for their skill, knowledge and interests.
Users can share programs with the community as part of the Edu app. Once you’ve mastered basic coding with SPRK + we’d recommend checking out the #ThursdayLearnDay videos by Sphero for inspiration. You can make SPRK + jam to the beat of a song, turn it into a Magic 8 ball and so much more. We are really excited by the possibilities and can’t wait to start sharing our own programs.
Our experience with Sphero SPRK+
My 6 year old has thoroughly enjoyed drawing paths for Sphero SPRK+ to follow and has big plans to make a maze for our robot to follow over the summer holidays. SPRK+ has been fantastic for her as the app allows her to achieve want she wants to do without overwhelming her with blocks or written code that she sometimes finds hard to grasp.
My 8 year old is the most creative of my children, and has been busy creating a house for the robot, complete with ramps for stairs and windows for him to pause to look out of. Her next task is to test how steep a ramp Sphero SPRK+ can climb and create something she can put around the robot to add extra traction to help slow it down, as SPRK+ moves very quickly along our wooden floors.
My 10 year old quickly moved beyond the drawing of paths to block based coding and after starting with very basic programs is now trying to push himself further and further each day with more complex code. It’s not often I see him so enthusiastic about something. His next plan is to create a football game complete with goals in the garden. I can’t wait to see how he gets on.
Zak has also loved getting to know SPRK+ using the Sphero app which allows users to drive SPRK+ around while learning tricks and completing missions. This app is a great way to introduce children to Sphero and the many capabilities it has.
As you can tell all three children have exciting and very different plans for what they can do with SPRK+ over the holidays, which I find fascinating as each of them have found a different way to use the robot to fit their ability and interests.
Why the SPRK+ Robot and Sphero Edu app are changing how kids learn
The combination of the SPRK+ robot, the Sphero Edu app and the amazing programs being created by Sphero enthusiasts around the world are perfect for inspiring a passion for robotics, coding, and STEAM principles while supporting other areas of learning at the same time. For example, one of the first lessons in the Edu app is calculating perimeter. This hands-on, creative and interactive learning experience is so incredibly exciting and one I hope many more children are lucky enough to experience.
Last Updated on September 8, 2022 by Emma Vanstone
My 11 year olds have been blessed to participate in a Coding class through APPLE camp this very week! In fact, this afternoon they get to practice programming with Sphero!! Was so excited to see your post. Am printing out and will share with the parents in my “class” this afternoon as the kids experiment with coding and Sphero. Thanks so much for your review with pics.
Wow – such an interesting learning tool that I am sure my home educated children would love
Love Sphero. We played with one at Toys R Us last year when they had open toy area.
I think it’s really cool how Sphero can go on a variety of surfaces and even through paint!
My 8 year old granddaughter and I will be THRILLED to make it go through the maze we made!
Our son would love to use this to create a new game that he could play together with his dog. It could also be fun for our homeschool co-op to use 🙂 Thanks for the review. I have a hard time keeping up with all of this technology.
I have a 10-year-old boy and 6-year-old girl. Their school does not teach coding. I would like to give them the gift of coding and incorporate robotics.STEM is the future. To show them how to draw pathways for their robots to follow as a game disguising learning as fun. This would be a gift for us all, to keep up with technology.
Thank you for this opportunity.
This would be such a fun way to learn through play!
My son would probably use it in his Mindcraft forts.
I would love my children to use it to learning coding in a real-world setting. I would love to see how innovative they could be to solve some problems such as cleaning or using it in some way to better the community by collecting samples or temperature.
My hubby and son would love this
I love that you can use Sphero in water, so I can see my students engineering boats or rafts to transport items from one place to another using Sphero. Sphero is opening the door for water robotics, and the possibilities are endless!
I would love to use SPRK+Robot with my Help Desk Students this year. They would be asked to use +creativity as they pose problems for coding with each other.
I would have kids build a tour around school– showing all the places we could go and film it!
I would give this to my 7 year old granddaughter who is very intelligent and would love to experiment with something like this.
To teach new technology to the new generation. Very cool
I would use it with my 8 year old daughter & her class to work on coding & storytelling while having fun with mazes & cool games & music.
I think it would be a great way to help my son learn more about science!
I technologically challenged but my nephew would probably be able to use this like a pro right out of the box. He is creative and could come up with many games with this. I would love to win it for him.
I’m sure my boys would love to make an obstacle course for it.
My kids love their tablets and, while we try to limit the time, it would be great for them to have the Sphero as an external interactive component.
I would use the Sphero to have my kids create obstacle courses and then try to program the Sphero to navigate it.
I have a little boy who would love this. He loves to see how things work and why. He would love this.
This looks like an amazing gadget! I love how you can control this with an app and how awesome it can go through mazes.
The kids love to make up games and I am sure they would make up some really cool ones with this
Both my kids love robots I would love to use this to create a maze- we have the tiny ozobot and I’d love to compare the 2
We’d, or rather, my daughter and I, would use it to work on coding skills. This is a cool tool toy, by the way. Thank you for introducing it!
My kids would have so much fun with this! I love that it can be used in so many different ways!
My niece would love to use this to create a game.
This is something that my kids would love to play. My husband and they love these type of toys.
My son is all about building things right now, so he would have a ball programming this!
My sons would enoy coming up with different mazes
I would use it for hand/eye coordination practice with my nephew.
My daughter would love this!
I am not the creative one in the family. My grand-girls would love learning to use this in ways that I can;t even think of 😀
I teach at an elementary school where I started a “Tech Ambassadors” summer program. Rising 4th and 5th graders spend a week over the summer becoming “experts” with the technology available in the school and then help other teachers effectively implement technology in their classrooms. We also had a coding part of the program that students absolutely loved. I would love to be able to introduce Sphero to our tech ambassadors and have them come up with something to introduce it to our staff and the rest of the school!
My four-year-old would love the draw a path function!
We work work on map making skills with our grandkids and then program Sphero SPRK+ to follow the map route. This sounds like so much fun.
My nephews would love to p;lay with this.
We would use it to learn about the solar system and fortune telling
My daughter would have a blast using this to learn to put together maze games on the ipad. She loves trying to figure out how to write games on the ipad and this would help make them more interactive.
I would give this to my cousin. He is super into technology and I know he would absolutely love it!
When your kids have cats as pets- any opportunity to mesmerize their cats is great fun. This looks like a wonderful way for kids to learn while also having fun.
My daughter was in first grade last year and they introduced the children to coding! She has fallen in love with it and is so eager to learn more. I think they would really be entertaining and educational for her.
My boys would set up obstacle courses for Sphero.
This would be so much fun to win. I would definitely give it to my daughter. I know it will inspire creativity. Thank you so much for the chance to win such a fun fun giveaway
My daughter would use it to create a 3d world featuring herself
I’m sure we can come up with a game involving it
id teach my son how games are fun with the sphero and learn some amazing facts
My grandson would chase the cats with it.
My kids would love to use it to do missions and coding. In a world full of technology it definitely seems like a perfect learning tool!
I can see my 11-year-old sister working in into her drawing somehow – maybe making it hold a marker and draw large pictures!
My daughter and I would have fun experimenting with this. Thank you
All 3 of my kids want to learn to code like their dad and I would for them to use this to keep them busy learning something new and fun!
I would love to use it to teach my kids about colors and shapes.
We would make a path of sticks n paint and whatever else we can find to play with it! It would also be great to calculate perimeters of various things around the house! This toy combines fun learning n creativity so the possibilities are endless!!
This would be great to use around the house as a scavenger hunt event. I could tell the kids a code to send sphero from point a to b and ask the kids what they came to when they got there i.e. tomato plant, mint, garage, whatever and have them complete a task at each point. When they are done they get a reward!
I volunteer for the homeless, and this would get all the children some fun, making mazes, so much potential. It would make learning fun!!! Thanks for the opportunity!! This would be a godsend!!
I would have fun teaching my daughter how to program with this.
Can’t wait to share this with my twin grandsons.
My daughter would enjoy this. I can only imagine her coming up with various tracks on different surfaces to run this. Inside and outdoors areas as well.
I would use it to get closer to my niece and nephew. I’m paralyzed and don’t have much to offer being a “fun uncle” so this would give me an opening and an activity to share with them. It looks incredibly fun so I’m sure I wouod have such a great time learning and playing with it myself!
Honestly, I could see my son building a track and trying to find a way to race against his cars or just tinker with it. He loves technology and this is amazing and awesome for kids!
i would have my kids build mazes and let sphero find his way through them. he seems like fun!
grandson could really use this
My daughter has a rabbit that loves to play with balls. She would probably create a course for the sphero and see if she could train her rabbit to complete the maze at the same time.
I would let my granddaughter learn with it
My daughter says she would use this to create a game that she can play with her friends on rainy days when recess is inside.
I would like to see my children learn new things through it.
I would use it to entertain my cats and distract them from trying to get into the dogs food bowl at dinner time!
My daughter would use it to entertain our cats
I would love to use the Sphero SPRK+ Robot to replicate planetary rotation and revolution.
This looks like so much fun. My kids would probably like to create a car to fit overtop of it and roadways to follow. Thanks for the giveaway!
>Tell me how you would use Sphero creatively in a blog post comment.
I would not use Sphero in a blog post comment. 😉
Perhaps my niece and I could program it to “run away” from the dog (while carrying treats, of course).
My son & daughter (6 & 7 years old) would both really enjoy the SPRK+ Robot! They’d probably choose to put together a maze for it to go through! Thanks for the chance to win this cool prize!
This will be for my son, he teaches Special Education. One of his students likes building robots.
It would be fun to steer it around a maze or hide it under a puppet and make it move.
They do not teach stem or coding in childs school. This summer he was one of 24 students picked to go to a 4 day camp and she loved it. We would use this to continue things she learned there like mapping out a lace ou wanted to go and have the robot travel the route
to learn the solor system
She would have fun experimenting with this making up games
I will gift it to my wonderful neighbor’s kids, who are super-enthused about science!
There are so many options I don’t know where to start. Hubby and I both started our love of computers waaaaaay back in Basic. Writing a line or two of code, seeing what the result was, and proceeding from there (Lego robotics kits also got involved along the way). It is so cool to see how far learning tools have come! I would love to see our daughter do the same kind of, curiosity fueled, learning by experimentation. For example: she is learning music, has a set of chimes, and understands how to direct multiple people to play a single melody – bell choir style. What if she could set-up her chimes and program the SPRK+ to play a tune?
That or just chase the chickens around the yard with her robot. ^_^
I don’t want my ‘old person’ thinking to get in the way of exploration though. Who knows what these kids can come up with! The pairing of innocence and creativity is a magnificent thing.
I would use this to get my niece interested in learning more about programming and robotics.
I would use Sphero creatively by helping the kids set up obstacle courses for Sphero to navigate.
Our kids would love this
We would incorporate this Set with our 2nd grade homeschool curriculum.
I am not sure what they can do with it specifically but I am looking forward to discovering some fun adventures with them!
My grandson does code now (at 7) and blows me away in what they learn and do nowadays. This would be right up his alley.
My nephew would probably use it for games.
My wife is an aid for special ed at the local school. This robot would be the perfect toy for them to have hours of fun. This sphero would be a great attention grabber all day long. Stay in school because school is cool!
This would be great for my son! How fun!!
My family would love to create a new game or an obstacle course using this! How fun would that be?!
Sphero would be a great way to introduce my class to coding. This would definitely spark their imagination!
Yhis would be a great way to foster an interest in technology for our littles. I’m not tech minded so this would be a grest help
I would use mine to introduce my son to the world of coding.
I am a about to enter a year of student teaching and I can only imagine how much fun the students would have if I brought this and started to incorporate it into my lessons!
My daughter would love to create a maze for ours to go through! She just started coding!
I don’t have the skills to make the most of the Sphero Edu – but I would gift it to my scientist daughter to use with her son.
My 5 year old son is big into STEM projects and has built robotic Lego creations so I know he would be able to come up with a multitude of ways to use this.
My kids would use this a million ways! I imagine first thing, making a maze!
I’m played around with other types of robots, but this kind looks really unique. The kids would have a blast learning with this.
This would be for my grands to help them with the new school year that is right around the corner. I know the boys would love this.
This would be for my grands to help them with the new school year that is right around the corner. I know the boys would love this. This is not a duplicate comment.
I think this would be good for my granddaughter . She has such a creative mind.
It is the new age. Kids need to know about technology earlier and earlier
I would share this with my nephew. He could use it for his science learning and creativity.
My grandson loves to learn while hes playing. I would love for him to have this. I think he would discover lots with it
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