Originally posted by MET student mlavoie on 21/05/2019
Root – the robot that can crawl on the walls
This robot from Harvard University turns any flat surface into an interactive coding experience. The product leverages commonly found items in classrooms (whiteboards, tablets) and its designers understand the importance of scaffolding in teaching (anything, but in this case, coding), which is reflected in the language and UI of the app. Their pitch video can be found on their Kickstarter page here. It’s the first video under ‘About’.
I would invest in this venture. It is rather intriguing that root can move across the wall. Although there are similarities between Root and interactive coding robots such as Sphero, I like the simplicity of Root. The robot moves at a slower pace, and the coding is simple. For these reasons, I think Root would be an excellent learning tool in elementary schools. Having introduced Sphero in elementary classrooms, the coding can get challenging for students. Also, the Sphero robot can move extremely fast, and children often lose control of it creating a chaotic class environment. Root lends itself to a calmer and more productive learning environment with students spread out in a classroom. Some groups could work on the floor, others on tables, and still others could utilize whiteboard and wall space. Root appears to be more user-friendly and accessible, especially for elementary settings.