Ozobot Bit+ programmable robot

Meet the playful mini robot
Do you want a funny remote-controlled robot that fits in your pocket? Would you like to draw children towards computer science? Are you interested in new technologies and want to try programming? Start with Ozobot Bit+, which can do everything at once and even more. It is a smart educational tool, suitable for both hobby and school learning across subjects and levels. The small bot is packed with features and will win you over with its cuteness and surprising abilities. It can follow guide lines and carry out coded commands drawn on paper, or perform anything according to a simply created script that you program in the intuitive Ozobot Blockly editor. Does it sound complicated? You don't need to worry at all. Operation is easy, and children from 8 years old, as well as adults who prefer to avoid small electronics, can handle it with ease. Even preschoolers dare to take on the simplest tasks! From the youngest age you can thus develop their creativity, critical thinking, teamwork skills, coding and problem solving.
Everything you need to start programming
In the starter set, alongside the Bit+ robot, you will find a collection of activities that will help you smoothly enter the secrets of programming. There are also a set of 5 washable markers so you can immediately start drawing colour codes and your own intricate tracks. The line width of the markers is adapted directly to the small bot's sensors. It thus orients itself better on your routes and turns and requires less frequent calibration. This minimal equipment, which you cannot do without at the beginning, is supplied neatly together in a spacious zipped case.
STEM educational tool for modern schools
Ozobot Bit+ creatively introduces the world of robotics, computer science and programming to pupils and students of primary, secondary and higher schools. In the Czech Republic, Ozobot is a very popular STEM tool for modern teaching of polytechnic subjects. STEM is a concept focused on four fields: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. However, do not look behind it for a classic way of education. On the contrary, it targets solving real-world challenges and emphasises critical and creative thinking. The attractive Ozobot is ideal for this type of teaching. Imagine, for example, how the small robot counts the junctions it passes or randomly selects numbers and mathematical operations to be performed on them for pupils. Or how, in a biology lesson, it travels along a drawn diagram of the human respiratory system and helps children understand this basic physiological process.
Creativity does not remain aside either – when drawing the guide line and ozocodes you can give free rein to your imagination, or equip Ozobot with your own scenery and costumes. That is why we would not hesitate to describe Ozobot as a tool belonging rather to the STEAM concept of education. In addition to the subjects mentioned above, this concept also places emphasis on the arts, not only fine art, music or drama. It may also include the ability to master language, formulate thoughts and present them convincingly. Lessons with Ozobot may also include a discussion during which pupils explain their steps, describe the problems they had to solve, and the methods leading to completing the task. The range of topics that you can cover with the little robot from the individual fields is extremely wide. Experts have noticed this well, and they have awarded Ozobot several prestigious awards in the field of education and technology.
Two ways of programming
As already mentioned, children and adults can code Ozobot Bit+ in two ways. To start, markers and paper are all you need for programming. Your task will be to draw black guide lines for the robot to follow. On them you place colour codes made up of a sequence of red, green and blue squares. These determine for the robot its direction and speed, start a counter or timer, or allow it to perform cool movements. There are many ozocodes with which you can spice up the track. And don't worry – you don't have to learn them by heart. You and the children can always have their overview at hand. Are you working with small children for whom even drawing tracks with colour codes might be difficult? Do you want to save a lot of paper? You can extend the basic starter kit with a set of magnets, which will perfectly replace them.
Another option is visual programming in the app or in the online block editor Ozobot Blockly. In this intuitive editor, mainly older pupils can arrange individual blocks one after another and create their unique combinations. The complexity of individual operations is clearly divided into several levels, so that every young programmer can choose their own. You then upload your original programs directly to the bot and let it carry them out in action. The entire editor environment can now be switched to Python, and students can learn to use this programming language as well. Whichever method you choose, you will practise your skills in creating sequences, commands, working with logic and strengthening your ability to solve problems.
Portal of teaching lessons
Are you not sure whether, after exhausting the included activities, you can come up with interesting and sophisticated enough tasks for the children to complete with the Bit+ robot? Don't worry! An online library of lessons for educational institutions (in English) is available to you. The lessons are labelled by difficulty and focus, and most importantly, new ones are added regularly! On the manufacturer's website you can, among other things, download and print ready-made mazes, racing tracks and an overview of colour codes and commands. Another source of inspiration will be the fantastic community of teachers who teach a wide range of subjects and share their own ideas and plans. The Ozobot community is very active and constantly growing. We can therefore only recommend following the webinars for teachers as well.
How leading Czech schools, Gymnázium Jana Keplera and Unicorn College, skilfully use Ozobots in computer science lessons can be seen in this video.
What next? Extend the set with other smart tools
The starter set is an excellent starting point for modern teaching of programming basics. But where to next? We have several ideas for you!
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