Melissa Toohey – Ozobot

Hands-On Video Lessons Weeks 1-4: Intro to STEAM

Melissa Toohey — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:26:31 +0000

We know this back-to-school season is extremely challenging for teachers, students, and parents alike. We’re trying to help in the best way we know how: with remote-friendly lessons, designed to engage students in STEAM and get them working hands-on and beyond screens while learning from home, in school, or in hybrid models.

Note: need bots for all your students to take full advantage of these Learn Anywhere lessons? Request a demo today to learn more about our 1:1 program–you might be surprised by the federal and state initiatives it qualifies for!

Discover Ozobot’s full Learn Anywhere lesson series and get detailed steps for remote and in-person instruction here:

Learn Anywhere Lessons – Full Schedule & Steps for Instruction >

Below, discover introductory STEAM lessons for Weeks 1-4, developed by our talented Edu team. You can also register for one of our upcoming webinars to dive deeper into remote-friendly lessons (and earn PD)!

Weeks 1-4: Intro to Ozobot & STEAM

Grades PK-12
Color Codes
Recommended pacing: 1 lesson per week
Length of each lesson: 30-45 mins

These introductory, STEAM lessons will give your students a solid understanding of how their Ozobot Evo works and Color Codes—our screen-free way to code. Students will use the skills and knowledge they gain from these lessons to complete math and ELA lessons.

Week 1 – Introduction to Ozobot: Get to Know Evo

For Teachers:
- Lesson Plan > (click Download Files)
For Students:
- Instructional Videos >
  See Lesson Plan for Student Activity Sheets

Week 2 – Introduction to Color Codes 1: Line Following

For Teachers:
- Lesson Plan > (click Download Files)
For Students:
- Instructional Videos >
  See Lesson Plan for Student Activity Sheets

Week 3 – Introduction to Color Codes 2: Drawing Color Codes

For Teachers:
- Lesson Plan > (click Download Files)
For Students:
- Instructional Videos >
  See Lesson Plan for Student Activity Sheets

Week 4 – Introduction to Color Codes 3: Directionality

For Teachers:
- Lesson Plan > (click Download Files)
For Students:
- Instructional Videos >
  See Lesson Plan for Student Activity Sheets

Ready to start using the lessons above? Find detailed steps for remote and in-person instruction here:

Learn Anywhere Lessons – Full Schedule & Steps for Instruction >

You can also register for one of our upcoming webinars to learn more and meet the team who creates our lessons!

The post Hands-On Video Lessons Weeks 1-4: Intro to STEAM appeared first on Ozobot.

Our New Video Lessons: For Hands-On Learning Anywhere

Melissa Toohey — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 20:21:10 +0000

Many educators are currently facing the uncertainty of planning for back to school. Ozobot is here to help! We’ve been working to help you teach core subjects anywhere, without sacrificing STEAM learning. Enter our new, student-facing video lessons.

About Learn Anywhere Lessons

Here’s our commitment to you. All of the Ozobot-generated lessons we’ll release over the coming months will be compatible with in-person, remote, or hybrid teaching for grades 2-8. A selection of lessons will be available for grades PK-12. These lessons are designed to be self-paced and self-guided for students with instructional videos throughout.

Note: need bots for all your students to take full advantage of these Learn Anywhere lessons? Request a demo today to start your Ozobot program–you might be surprised by the federal and state initiatives it qualifies for!

Each of our remote-friendly lessons will take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete, and we recommend assigning one lesson per week. Our team is busy developing lessons, and will release new content for grades 2-5 weekly, so you can follow this recommended pacing. For other grades, PK-2 and 6-12, the initial four week release works for all of these grade levels. Register for one of our upcoming webinars to dive deeper into these lessons, earn PD, and get tips for adapting for Bit or other grade levels!

Weeks 1-4: Intro to STEAM >

Grades PK-12

These introductory, STEAM lessons will give your students a solid understanding of how Ozobots work and our screen-free way to code: Color Codes. Lessons include:

Introduction to Ozobot: Get to Know Evo
Introduction to Color Codes 1: Line Following
Introduction to Color Codes 2: Drawing Color Codes
Introduction to Color Codes 3: Directionality

Week 5: Math >

Grades 2-5

These ready-to-run lessons will increase student engagement while meeting Common Core State Standards for Math. Lessons include:

Grade 2: What’s My Value
Grade 3: Mix It Up Multiplication
Grade 4: Division Maze
Grade 5: Number Randomizer

Week 6: ELA >

Grades 2-5

These ready-to-run lessons will increase student engagement while meeting Common Core State Standards for ELA. Lessons include:

Grade 2: Picking Out Irregular Plural Nouns
Grade 3: How to Make a Sandwich
Grade 4: ID the Structure
Grade 5: Prepositions by Chance

Week 7: Math >

Grades 2-5

These ready-to-run lessons will increase student engagement while meeting Common Core State Standards for Math. Lessons include:

Grade 2: Odd or Even Shopping
Grade 3: Rounding Fun
Grade 4: Division with Remainders
Grade 5: Maze of Operations

Week 8: ELA >

Grades 2-5

These ready-to-run lessons will increase student engagement while meeting Common Core State Standards for ELA. Lessons include:

Grade 2: Vowel Addition
Grade 3: Ozobot Plays with Verbs and Adverbs
Grade 4: ID the Structure
Grade 5: Triangle’s Story

Week 9: Math >

Grades 2-5

These ready-to-run lessons will increase student engagement while meeting Common Core State Standards for ELA. Lessons include:

Grade 2: Money Mountains
Grade 3: Equivalent Fraction Match Up
Grade 4: Division Race
Grade 5: Ordered-Pairs

Halloween Edition: Ozobot Trick or Treat >

Grades 2-8

This ready-to-run lesson makes subjects like math and social studies a real treat!

Ozobot for President – Election Day Activities >

Grades K-8

These ready-to-run lessons will make subjects like math and social studies a real treat! Lessons include:

Grades K-2: Ozobot for President (Beginner)
Grades 3-8: Ozobot for President (Advanced)

Gratitude Party: A Thanksgiving Activity + ELA Lessons >

Grades 2-8

Students will identify what they’re grateful for with a Thanksgiving activity, while at the same time exploring social studies and SEL/Digital Citizenship concepts. Lessons include:

Grades 2-8: Thanksgiving Gratitude Party
Grade 3: Prefix Puzzle
Grade 4: What’s the Word Relay
Grade 5: Synonyms in Action

Video lessons will be released regularly, so keep an eye on our blog for even more!

What Materials are Included?

These lessons are designed with flexibility in mind! Even though they are “remote-friendly,” they include support materials for teachers to utilize in all settings–hybrid, remote, and synchronous. Each lesson includes:

For Teachers
- Lesson Plan: Use it to teach synchronously or as a reference when assigning remote work.
- Includes standards met by each lesson, which can include: CCSS ELA, CCSS Math, NGSS, CSTA, ISTE
For Students
- Instructional Video: Provides students with any and all background information, front loads content, and guides students through step-by-step
- Activity Guide and Activity Sheets: Print these pages and distribute to students or distribute them digitally to be printed at home.

Steps for Instruction

Completing Ozobot lessons with your students is easy–whether you’re teaching in person, remotely, or in a hybrid model. For step-by-step instructions, see our Get Started Guide for Educators:

upcoming webinars to dive deeper into these lessons (and earn PD)!

The post Our New Video Lessons: For Hands-On Learning Anywhere appeared first on Ozobot.

4 Ways to Create LGBT-Safe Classrooms and Culture

Melissa Toohey — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 16:32:39 +0000

Editor’s Note: Because the need to foster equity and inclusion in the classroom is as urgent as ever, this post has been updated for 2021 with new resources for educators and insights from the LGBTQ+ community. If you have resources or perspectives you think should be added, reach out anytime to hello@ozobot.com.

If you’re like us, it may feel difficult to celebrate recently, with all the reminders of discrimination and bias permeating our culture and reflecting on how we can taking action. However, amidst the heaviness was a reason to celebrate: the U.S. Supreme Court mandated that a person cannot be fired on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

As we celebrate with LGBTQ+ educators and students, we do acknowledge there is still work to be done to make students and teachers feel safe to discuss these topics in the classroom. We spoke with educators, LGBTQ+ community members, and LGBTQ+ former students to learn how educators can be allies and promote safe, accepting, and allied classroom culture.

1. Incorporate Literature That’s Reflective of All Types of Families

Add inclusive texts to my classroom library (or requesting and/in school library) with either LGBTQIA main characters or parents/family members. Add non fiction text discussing LGBTQIA movements or biographies about people who identify different ways. Some recommendations include:

Download for free from The Happy School Counselor on Teachers Pay Teachers!

2. Have Open and Continuous Conversations about Inclusivity

This can be as simple as incorporating Social/Emotional Learning (SEL) by teaching and discussing the following terms:
- Bravery
- Compassion
- Empathy
In small group or whole group conversations, talk about one’s identity and what connects kids to one another and what makes them different. These open conversations help children with identity and inclusivity.
One educator shared some ways they’ve created an inclusive classroom saying, “Another thing is trying to never fit kids into girl/boy roles. I don’t choose colors based on gender, I let them choose. There are not girl/boy books. When we do plays or activities they can play opposite gender roles if they choose. This may seem random, but I also notice that when I teach prefixes and suffixes I like to include ones like “trans” because the more students know and understand the better.”
At Santa Monica High School, staff were provided with a rainbow card to display on their lanyards that state, “I’m an Ally.” The non-verbal approach sends a message to students that there are safe adults and spaces to go to.
A 4th-grade teacher recommended showing allyship in subtle ways. She said, “It’s small but I also have a small pride flag in my room. I’ve had at least one student come back and come out to me. She told me she noticed it. I started pointing out the flag but I do have some kids who ask.”
June is a great opportunity to do this because it’s Pride month, but the best thing is for teachers to fold LGBTQ+ narratives and concerns into the curriculum throughout the year seamlessly. They can celebrate that the first person to allegedly start the Stonewall “riot” in New York was a Black trans woman who threw a high heel shoe at the police who were raiding the bar.
The best thing teachers can do is be celebratory of LGBTQ+ culture, wearing rainbow colors and including Zoom backgrounds of famous community members that have made an impact in their field and the world, and folding in lessons that engage a strengths based narrative of how much the queer and trans community have contributed. Interrupting any jokes at the expense of gender and sexual orientation is important, and providing language for kids on how to view language around being queer or performing gender in unconventional ways as unique, special, and creative.

3. Nip Problematic Language in the Bud

One LGBTQ+ High school teacher discussed the implications of not addressing problematic language publicly. In high school and middle school settings, students may passively use inappropriate language such as “that’s gay” or use other homophobic and transphobic language without understanding the consequences and meaning of the language. In this reflection, this educator, who identifies as a gay man, realized that behavior like this needs to be nipped in the bud immediately. “I feel like that’s sounds obvious but I think there were a few times earlier in my career where I just ignored it and I feel like if there were gay kids in my class I sent them a message that I didn’t care.” You never know if there are students struggling with their identities. Also, students may view your silence as an educator as complicity or that it’s acceptable classroom language and behavior.
One elementary educator said, “Even in 4th grade, every year I have the conversation about not calling classmates ‘gay’ when they’re mad at them. I usually tell them I have friends who are gay. It’s offensive to me and to them. For some it was the first time they’ve heard that. I know some of them don’t know anyone who is gay or don’t know that someone they know is gay.”

4. Incorporate Explicit LGBTQ+/Anti-Bias Lessons in Your Classroom

We recommend the following resources:

5. Celebrate LGBTQ+ People in STEM

Along with women and the BIPOC community, the LGBTQ+ community is underrepresented in STEM/STEAM careers. Share our list of LGBTQ+ individuals in STEM, ranging from chemists to software engineers, or conduct original research with your students to celebrate their contributions and impact across many industries.

How to Get Parent Buy In:

We hope these resources help you foster a safe space for LGBTQ+ educators and students alike. When implementing some of the teaching strategies above, be aware that some parents may jump to the conclusion that these conversations are sexual in nature. Here are some tips for navigating parent concern:

Explain to parents that these conversations are about families—and how different types of people can have different types of families.
Call in admin to support you. Make a case that admin’s role is to ensure all students have access to safe learning environments.
Open yourself to continuing to educate and inform. Don’t expect someone to change from one conversation.

If you have resources or perspectives you think should be added to the list above, we’d love to hear them! Reach out anytime to hello@ozobot.com.

The post 4 Ways to Create LGBT-Safe Classrooms and Culture appeared first on Ozobot.

ShapeTracer 2: Introduce Loops Remotely with a Robot Simulator

Melissa Toohey — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:37:00 +0000

Interested in providing your students (or kids!) with meaningful computer science experiences without a robot? Check out ShapeTracer 2! This blog post will guide you through all 10 levels of ShapeTracer 2 with tips and tricks for teaching the content. By programming a virtual Ozobot through each level, students in grades 2 and up will be introduced to core computer science concepts like sequencing, debugging, and loops.

Before attempting ShapeTracer 2, be sure to complete ShapeTracer 1. ShapeTracer 1 is the perfect launching pad for introductory block-based coding, and ShapeTracer 2 expands on the concepts and skills that are introduced in ShapeTracer 1.

What’s the Difference between ShapeTracer 1 and ShapeTracer 2?

ShapeTracer 1 serves as an introductory block-based coding activity. It focuses on sequencing movement and lighting effects. ShapeTracer 2 takes it one step further by introducing the concepts of loops and nested loops. These sophisticated logic and programming skills are challenging for adults and students alike!

Where can I find ShapeTracer 2?

To use ShapeTracer, you’ll need a computer with a web browser or a tablet (iPad 3 or newer and Android tablets). Find it (along with other Ozobot learning games) at ozobot.com/create/games. Or, go to ozobot.com and:

Select Create
Select Games
Select ShapeTracer 2

Getting Started

Now you’re ready to begin! Let’s jump right in. Give your students a general Overview:

ShapeTracer 2 is a block-based programming tool for students. They can program and code with no bot required. Here are some general tips and tricks:

The Goals section gives directions for each level. Generally, the goal is to program the bot to trace the colored line shown in the Simulator by programming it with the OzoBlockly blocks in the left panel.
The Simulator is in the upper right panel.
There are 10 levels/goals total.
Students will receive feedback on whether their program was:
- correct,
- correct with the opportunity to make their program more efficient by using fewer blocks,
- or incorrect
Once all 10 stages are completed, students can unlock a printable activity.
Robots are not needed, but if students have access to Ozobots, they can use the flash loading feature.
All code blocks needed for each level are in the left panel.
Any speed will work in the movement blocks.

Level 1 Tips and Tricks:

Remind students to use a Light Effects block and “set light color” to match the line in the Simulator before each movement.
Explain to students that each square in the grid represents 1 step for Ozobot.
The large, darker squares represent 5 steps.
Orientation of the bot: round shape represents the back wheel hubs.
Pose some guiding questions:
- How can you quickly tell how far the bot needs to move?
  - Answer: If the dark gray grid lines represent 5 steps, double that would be 10 steps.
Explain to students:
- In ShapeTracer 1, we programmed sequences. In ShapeTracer 2, we’ve “leveled up” and now have the ability to utilize loops.
- Loops can be utilized to repeat code. Anything programmed in a loop will repeat. Ask students to notice if the bot needs to move in a specific pattern. The pattern can be programmed into the loop.

Level 2 Tips and Tricks:

Make Math connections:
- Geometry: the code in the loop represents each side of a square.
  - Ask: How many sides does a square have? How many times does our loop need to repeat?
Shortcut: Right click on any block and click duplicate to easily make copies of code in your workspace.

Level 3 Tips and Tricks:

Encourage testing and debugging.
Make a Math connection:
- Geometry connection: this shape is a slightly-rotated square
Remind students to set light color before coding each movement.
Shortcut: Right click on any block and click duplicate to easily make copies of code in your workspace.

Level 4 Tips and Tricks:

Introduce a new coding concept: nested loops
- Explain that there is a pattern within a pattern. Ask students to identify the two patterns
- The two patterns include:
  - The up-down, up-down line that the bot travels
    - The “repeat 3 times” loop represents this pattern
  - The bot traveling the yellow line on top, and then traveling the purple line underneath.
    - The “repeat 2 times” loop represents this pattern
Remind students to set light color before coding each movement.
Testing is your friend! Encourage students to test each segment so they reduce debugging later.

Level 5 Tips and Tricks:

Encourage students to identify where they can use a loop
- Probe with: Where do you see a pattern? Can we program that section with a loop?
- Explain to students that the first red line segment and the last blue line segment are not part of the pattern, and therefore, are not included in the loop.

Level 6 Tips and Tricks:

Make a Math connection: logical reasoning and geometry:
- There are multiple solutions, but encourage students to use the least number of blocks.
- Hint: Turns require a movement block, so utilize the bot’s directionality to your advantage!
- Ask students, “Why should we trace the green square before the red lines?”
  - Explain that because the bot is already pointed in the direction of the green square’s side, we can use that to our advantage.
  - Having the bot turn would take an extra block.

Level 7 Tips and Tricks:

Make a Math Connection: Geometry
- Ask students: How many sides does this shape have? If this shape has 8 sides, why is the loop only repeating 4 times?
  - The loop only repeats 4 times, because the pattern of “Blue-Red” repeats 4 times

Level 8 Tips and Tricks:

Make Math connections:
- Logic:
- Ask students: What is the shortest path to completion? How can we effectively utilize the ‘backwards’ direction?
  - Utilizing “backwards” eliminates the need to have the bot rotate later in the code, and will be the most efficient way to trace the shape.

Level 9 Tips and Tricks:

Make a Math connection:
- Logic:
  - Ask students: Why would we choose to use “backwards” in this puzzle?
    - Using “backwards” eliminates the need to rotate, and therefore, is the most efficient way to program the bot to trace the shape.

Level 10 Tips and Tricks:

Make a Math connection: Geometry
- The shape is a square. The “repeat” loop will include the code for each side of the square.
Helpful Hint:
- To trace black, turn the top light off

Great! You’ve completed all steps in ShapeTracer 2! Now, how can you use this tool with your students? If you are teaching in a virtual classroom, we have two recommended pathways:

Step-by-step I do, we do, you do model:

Model each step for the students, and have them follow along on their devices. Once they understand the content, release them to complete stages on their own.

Assign ShapeTracer 2 as independent practice for students:

Come back and discuss

“What was easy?”
“What was hard? What strategies did you use to figure out the issue?”
“How did you solve the challenges?”
“Was there one level where you tried multiple solutions?”
Have students screenshot different solutions and share their thinking.

Have fun with ShapeTracer 2, and come back to check out posts about OzoTown. They’re coming soon!

The post ShapeTracer 2: Introduce Loops Remotely with a Robot Simulator appeared first on Ozobot.

Submit Your Ozobot Lesson Video to Win a Bot for Each Student in Your Class!

Melissa Toohey — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 20:49:07 +0000

As you may know, we launched our 1:1 Robotics Program to better support educators, no matter their teaching format this Fall and beyond. The Ozobot team is hard at work creating a remote curriculum for ELA and math that is flexible for distance and in-person learning; however, we know that some of our greatest lessons come from our community!

Do you have an incredible lesson you’d like to share with other teachers and students? Participate in Ozobot’s newest initiative to bring lessons to students, no matter where they are learning: instructional videos made by YOU. Your instructional video will be featured on the Ozobot YouTube channel and in Ozobot Classroom, plus you’ll be entered to win an Evo for each student in your class (up to 36!).

Read on to discover the elements of an outstanding instructional video. Our goal is to create a comprehensive collection of videos that can support teachers and students during school closures and beyond. For now, these videos will be a resource for distance learning with students on YouTube. Long-term, they’ll be made available within the Ozobot Classroom STEAM platform as an option for educators to deliver lesson content with self-guided videos.

Steps to Submit

Submit your video by November 1, 2020 to be entered to win a 1:1 Ozobots for your class:

Watch our webinar detailing instructions and resources that will give you the best shot at creating a winning video! You can also find examples and teaching strategies below.
Create a student-facing instructional video and publish it on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to the Ozobot YouTube Channel while you’re at it!
Submit your YouTube link and accompanying lesson plan in our Lesson Creator. (Note: You can use the template there to include resources and links for teachers. For example, list the lesson’s standards, applicable grade levels, and/or include a link to Google Slides. You’ll need to create a free Ozobot Classroom account to submit.)

At this time, we can only accept submissions from US residents. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Submit more lesson videos to increase your odds of winning! Winners will be announced in November of 2020. One lucky winner will receive up to TWO Classroom Kits so each student in your class can have a bot, and three runners-up will win an Evo Educator Entry Kit.

What Makes a Great Instructional Video?

An instructional video can be utilized by a student to independently complete a lesson or task. We’re looking for lessons using Ozobot’s Color Codes and/or OzoBlockly to teach a topic. What exactly this looks like is up to you! Will we see your lovely face or do you prefer voiceover only? Will it be teaching coding/CS only or integrate coding/CS into a different subject like ELA or math?

The options above are flexible so find what works for you. To be eligible for the Classroom Kit prize, your video must include:

A clear objective of the lesson or task
Instructions to complete the task
Sample code to complete the lesson or task
Example of a solution
Optional: A challenge or extension using what they have learned

We’ve put together a couple examples below. Please note that while on-screen text is encouraged, it is not required (we understand not everyone has an in-house video editor!).

Don’t Know Where to Start ?

Follow the “I Do, We Do, You Do” Model in your video by:

Modeling the activity first
Model how to complete the task as if students were following along
Explain the task the student will complete independently

If you need resources for creating the video itself, we love OBS Project–an open-source, free software tool that allows you to create videos with a combination of devices and cameras. For example, you can use your computer camera to capture your face or your actions on screen, and a phone/tablet to film the bot or an activity.

Increase Your Chances to Win!

Each video you submit will increase your chances of winning. All video submissions will be judged on the following criteria:

Creativity
Engagement: Pose an engaging challenge for students to complete.
Student-Facing: Students should be able to complete the challenge/lesson independently
Solutions: Provide potential solutions or examples

Winners will be announced in mid-November 2020 at the Ozobot Awards, where we’ll announce the winners and recognize outstanding instructional videos (more details to come). Good luck! Please note that by submitting your video via email, you agree to allow Ozobot to repost and reuse your video on our platforms per our Lesson Submission Terms & Conditions.

What if I Don’t Own an Ozobot?

No purchase is necessary to enter the instructional video competition. If you do not have an Evo, you are permitted to submit computer science lessons that do not require the use of a robot or create a lesson using ozoblockly.com. See an example of a robot-less lesson here. If you would like to create an Ozobot-specific lesson, you can find an Evo Educator Entry Kit that comes with training in Ozobot’s 2 Ways to Code here.

Contest Terms & Conditions

OFFICIAL RULES. The following are the official rules (“Rules”) for the Ozobot Instructional Video Contest (“Contest”). By submitting an entry to the Contest, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to be bound by these Official Rules, the Ozobot.com Terms of Use (found at https://ozobot.com/terms-of-use) and represent and warrant that you satisfy all eligibility requirements.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.

SPONSOR. The Contest is sponsored by Evollve, Inc. d/b/a. Ozobot (“Sponsor”), a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 129 W. Torrance Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

ENTRY & ELIGIBILITY. To enter the Contest, use upload your video to your YouTube channel and submit your entry link to melissa@ozobot.com and subscribe to the Ozobot YouTube Channel. Any of these entry requirements shall constitute an official entry into the Contest (“Entry”). Unlimited Entries per individual. Entries that are lost, late, incomplete, misdirected or altered for any reason, including hardware, software, browser or network failure, malfunction, congestion, or incompatibility will be ineligible. Only legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (excluding Rhode Island, Alaska, Puerto Rico), and the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older may enter and participate in the Contest, except employees, agents, or representatives of the Sponsor or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, or members of their immediate family.

PRIZES. The following “Prize” is being awarded in this Contest: One (1) Grand Prize Winner will win up to (2) Evo Classroom Kits (with an approximate prize Retail Value of $4,000) and three (3) Evo Educator Entry Kits (with an approximate prize Retail Value of $110.00 each). Judgement and selection of winners will occur within (30) business days of the conclusion of the Entry Period by a representative from the Sponsor whose decisions are final and binding in all respects. The odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible Entries received during the Entry Period. All results and decisions of Sponsor are final and binding in all respects. Any difference between the approximate retail value and the actual value of the Prizes will not be awarded and any difference will not be refunded. The Prizes are not transferable or redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded. No substitutions are permitted except if prize is unavailable, in which case a prize of equal or greater value will be awarded. Winner is responsible for all federal, state, local sales and income taxes. Any other incidental expenses on prize not specified herein are the sole responsibility of winner.

CONTEST. The Entry submission period of the Contest begins on April 15, 2020at 12am Pacific Standard Time (“PST”) and ends on November 1, 2020 at 11:59pm PST (the “Entry Period”). Winner will be notified via email and may be announced on a post from Ozobot during September 2020. Winners may be required, at the Sponsor’s discretion, to complete and return an email confirmation of prize acceptance and an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability and a Publicity Release (“Affidavit/Release”) within seven (7) days of notification, or an alternate winner will be selected. Prize shall be awarded within 30 days after receipt and verification of completed Affidavit/Release or prize notification. If the winning Entry is discovered to be invalid for any reason prior to delivery of the Prize, or if the Winner cannot be contacted or does not respond within three (3) business days, Sponsor may randomly select an alternate winner from all remaining eligible entries at its sole discretion. If there is no winner by the 30th day after end of Contest, no further winners will be chosen.

GENERAL. This Contest is governed by the laws of the State of California in the United States. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. By entering and participating in the Contest, you agree to be bound by these Rules and by Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding on all matters relating to the Contest. Entrants are required to provide accurate, valid and truthful information at all times. Sponsor will reject and delete any Entry that it discovers to be false, fraudulent, illegal or deceptive and will disqualify any entrant who tampers with the Entry process, the operation of the Contest, or is otherwise in violation of the Rules. Sponsor is not responsible for electronic transmission errors, which result in the omission, interruption, deletion, defect, destruction, alteration, and/or delay of any Entry. Sponsor is not responsible for any technical, network, electronic, computer, hardware and/or software malfunction, problem, incompatibility, congestion or failure of any kind. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the Contest at any time, in its sole discretion, if the Contest is not capable of completion as planned, including without limitation, the lack of Entry submissions, incomplete Entries, computer viruses, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention or technical failures of any sort, without notice. Upon cancellation or termination of the Contest for any reason, Sponsor shall have no obligation to award prizes or compensation of any kind.

By submitting an Entry and participating in the Contest, you represent and warrant that (i) your Entry, including the idea for your entry, is original and that you are the sole and exclusive owner and rights holder of the submitted Entry, or you have obtained the necessary permission to include the Entry in the Contest, and that you have the right and authority to submit the Entry in the Contest; (ii) your Entry does not violate any third party intellectual property or proprietary rights; and (iii) you are otherwise not in violation of any applicable laws, rules and/or regulations.

By submitting an Entry and participating in the Contest, you agree and hereby grant Sponsor and its affiliates permission to use, copy, modify, publish, and/or reproduce your Entry, including but not limited to your name, likeness, image, story and photos, for any purpose, including but not limited to marketing, media, editorial, commercial, advertising, promotional and/or publicity purposes, in any form of media anywhere in the world, without further compensation to you except where prohibited by law.

INDEMNIFICATION:

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The post Submit Your Ozobot Lesson Video to Win a Bot for Each Student in Your Class! appeared first on Ozobot.

ShapeTracer 1: A Robot Simulator to Teach Computer Science Remotely

Melissa Toohey — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 17:27:20 +0000

Interested in providing your students (or kids!) with meaningful computer science experiences without a robot? Check out ShapeTracer 1, Ozobot’s free robot simulator game! This blog post will guide you through all 10 levels of ShapeTracer with tips and tricks for teaching the content. By programming a virtual Ozobot through each level, students in grades 2 and up will be introduced to core computer science concepts like sequencing and debugging.

Where can I find ShapeTracer 1?

Select Create
Select Games
Select ShapeTracer 1

Getting Started

Now you’re ready to begin! Let’s jump right in. Give your students a general Overview:

ShapeTracer 1 is a block-based programming tool for students. They can program and code with no bot required. Here are some general tips and tricks:

The Goals section gives directions for each level. Generally, the goal is to program the bot to trace the colored line shown in the robot Simulator by programming it with the OzoBlockly blocks in the left panel.
The Simulator is in the upper right panel.
There are 10 levels/goals total.
Students will receive feedback on whether their program was:
- correct,
- correct with the opportunity to make their program more efficient by using fewer blocks,
- or incorrect
Once all 10 stages are completed, students can unlock a printable activity.
Robots are not needed, but if students have access to Ozobots, they can use the flash loading feature.
All code blocks needed for each level are in the left panel.
Any speed will work in the movement blocks.

Level 1 Tips and Tricks:

Remind students to use a Light Effects block and “set light color” to match the line in the Simulator before each movement.
Explain to students that each square in the grid represents 1 step for Ozobot.
The large, darker squares represent 5 steps.
Orientation of the bot: round shape represents the back wheel hubs.
Pose some guiding questions:
- How can you quickly tell how far the bot needs to move?
  - Answer: If the dark gray grid lines represent 5 steps, double that would be 10 steps.

Level 2 Tips and Tricks:

Before starting this level, review directionality (right, left) with students
Remind students that orientation matters! Ask students to think about which way the bot is facing to determine direction.
Make Math connections:
- right/left = right angle/ 90 degree turn
- slight right/slight left= 45 degree turn
Shortcut: Right click on any block and click duplicate to easily make copies of code in your workspace.

Level 3 Tips and Tricks:

Encourage testing and debugging.
Make a Math connection:
- Partners to 10: “If we know the whole segment is 10, and the blue portion is 3, what is the red portion?”
Remind students to set light color before coding each movement.
Shortcut: Right click on any block and click duplicate to easily make copies of code in your workspace.

Level 4 Tips and Tricks:

Make a Math connection:
- Estimation: “If we know the whole segment is 5, and the color segment is slightly longer, what number would make sense?”
Remind students to set light color before coding each movement.
Testing is your friend! Encourage students to test each segment so they reduce debugging later.

Level 5 Tips and Tricks:

Pay careful attention to the length of the segments.
Make a Math connection:
- “If the bot moves forward 4 steps, and moves double the amount backward, how many steps does it need to move backward?”

Level 6 Tips and Tricks:

There are multiple solutions, but encourage students to use the least number of blocks.
Hint: Turns require a movement block, so utilize the bot’s directionality in the robot Simulator to your advantage!

Level 6 alternative solution with more blocks:

This code has the bot tracing the red line first. It utilizes one extra block due to the turn required in the second block.

Level 7 Tips and Tricks:

Make a Math Connection:
Subtraction: Using the dark gray grid, model how to use subtraction to find the length of the segments.

Level 8 Tips and Tricks:

Make Math connections:
- Angles:
  - slight right/sight left = 45 degrees
  - right/left = 90 degrees
- Geometry:
  - The rhombus shapes are the same size as the 5 X 5 squares.
- Logic:
  - “What is the shortest path to completion?”
“Does it make more sense to trace the red square first, then move to the blue square? Or is there an alternative path?”

Level 9 Tips and Tricks:

Make a Math connection:
- Angles
Some turns are less than 90 degrees, so the “slight right” needs to be utilized.

Level 10 Tips and Tricks:

Make a Math connection:
- Angles
  - Some turns are less than 90 degrees, so the “slight right” needs to be utilized.
For the turns greater than 90 degrees, “sight right” + “right” need to be utilized together.

Great! You’ve completed all steps in ShapeTracer 1! Now, how can you use this tool with your students? If you are teaching in a virtual classroom, we have two recommended pathways:

Step-by-step I do, we do, you do model:

Model each step for the students, and have them follow along on their devices. Once they understand the content, release them to complete stages on their own.

Assign ShapeTracer 1 as independent practice for students:

Come back and discuss

“What was easy?”
“What was hard? What strategies did you use to figure out the issue?”
“How did you solve the challenges?”
“Was there one level where you tried multiple solutions?”
Have students screenshot different solutions and share their thinking.

Have fun with the ShapeTracer 1 robot simulator, and come back to check out posts about ShapeTracer 2 and OzoTown. They’re coming soon!

The post ShapeTracer 1: A Robot Simulator to Teach Computer Science Remotely appeared first on Ozobot.

Be Our Next Educator Of The Month!

Melissa Toohey — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 23:43:43 +0000

February is Black History Month, and a big part of our mission at Ozobot includes opening access and equity for underrepresented groups in both the tech and education fields. We want Ozobot teachers and students to know that all students, no matter the background or skin color, can be a computer scientist or roboticist.

The urgency in the job market is real. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, computing jobs are projected to grow by 12% between 2018-2028, far quicker than other occupational fields. In the United States, the projected technology and computing job market growth outpaces the current rate of college graduates to fill those roles.

One key reason for this is that the education pipeline lacks diversity. Why is diversity important? Here’s an example from the past: when pacemakers were being developed, the creators focused on testing them on men. Men have larger hearts than women, and this difference was not accounted for in the initial creation of the pacemaker.

The results showed less effectiveness for women, which made the creators realize they needed to widen the scope of their invention and design for more diverse populations. Innovation and technology benefit deeply from diversity.

Teachers using Ozobot have recognized the need for computer science instruction to begin before commonplace stereotypes around computing and robotics are solidified.

As we all know, teachers make a big impact in students’ lives and can inspire them to pursue various career paths.

Knowing that the teaching field is historically not as diverse as the student population, we’d love to feature diverse educators to encourage diversity in both the teaching and tech fields.

Do you know an educator that is a champion for social justice and inclusion? Are they passionate about educating historically underserved student populations?

We are looking for our Educator of the Month for February in honor of Black History Month! Nominate yourself, or an outstanding educator you know, by emailing heather@ozobot.com.

In order to be considered the nominee must:

Have at least one high quality lesson in the Lesson Library. Bonus points if this lesson is focused on Black History Month themes.
Briefly share how they have worked to improve outcomes for underserved student populations and their passion for Black history/highlighting the achievements of black citizens.

If selected, the Educator of the Month will receive special recognition on the Ozoblog and a $100 Ozobot gift card! Send in your nominations today!

Did you know?

In 2018, women comprised 57% of the national workforce, yet they only held 26% of computing roles. Only 3% of the computing workforce were Black women.
According to the College Board, which tracks AP exams, 3,101 students took the AP computer science exam in 2011 in California. Of those who did take the computer science exam, only 29 students were African American. While this number has increased in recent years, it does not reflect the diversity of the population of the state.
According to Code.org’s 2019 State of Computer Science report, 29% of test takers were from underrepresented minority groups.

The post Be Our Next Educator Of The Month! appeared first on Ozobot.

How To Write Clear Lesson Objectives

Melissa Toohey — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 17:48:31 +0000

Lesson Objectives. As educators, we use them everyday to guide our practice and student learning. We read them, write them, and post them in our classrooms. They should be simple enough to write, right? Think again! While objectives seem simple enough to execute, they can be quite tricky to write.

Why is it essential to write clear and meaningful objectives? Well-written objectives provide direction to instruction, guidelines for assessment, and provide instructional intent to others. Let’s parse this out.

Objectives Provide Direction to Instruction

Objectives give educators guidance, and keep teachers and students on track. A well-written objective provides a clear picture to both teacher and student as to what is occuring. Well-written objectives eliminate confusion.

Objectives Provide Guidelines for Assessment

A well-written objective will allow teachers to easily assess student learning, and gauge learning outcomes. For students, the objectives will set expectations for what they will learn, and what content needs to be mastered.

Objectives Provide Instructional Intent to Others

An effective objective communicates the focus and purpose of the lesson, regardless of audience. Another instructor, administrator, and even students themselves can understand what learning goals and outcomes are anticipated from the lesson.

How to Write an Objective

Objectives are such valuable parts of lesson planning and execution. Where do you start? Objectives must be specific, measurable, short-term, and observable. Seems simple enough, but that’s a lot of information to pack into a single sentence or two. How do you create a well-written objective?

Ask yourself, “What should the student be able to do?”

Remember, objectives must be measurable. Avoid using words like “understand”, “think”, “be aware of”, “learn”, and “have knowledge of” as these behaviors cannot be measured.

Utilize Bloom’s Taxonomy

If finding a measurable action is challenging, turn to Bloom’s Taxonomy! The chart below provides great verbiage to include into your objective. This list of Bloom’s Taxonomy verbs allows you to identify your student’s mastery and skill level and craft a high quality lesson.

Learning level	Associated action verbs
Knowledge	define, describe, state, list, name, write, recall, recognize, label, underline, select, reproduce, outline, match
Comprehension	identify, justify, select, indicate, illustrate, represent, name, formulate, explain, judge, contrast, classify
Application	predict, select, assess, explain, choose, find, show, demonstrate, construct, compute, use, perform
Analysis	analyze, identify, conclude, differentiate, select, separate, compare, contrast, justify, resolve, break down, criticize
Synthesis	combine, restate, summarize, precise, argue, discuss, organize, derive, select, relate, generalize, conclude
Evaluation	judge, evaluate, determine, recognize, support, defend, attack, criticize, identify, avoid, select, choose

Use the Phrase, “Students will be able to…”

If all else fails, begin your objective this way. What is it that you want your students to be able to do during and after the lesson? A well-written objective will have four parts, it will state the audience (students), provide a measurable and observable behavior, and describe the circumstances, and describe the degree in which students will perform. For example, an objective could read, “Students will be able to write three differnt color codes in their Ozobot journal with no errors.”

Let’s put it to the test. Are these well-written objectives?

Students will understand how an Ozobot works.

No! “Understand” is not measurable in this context.

Students will enjoy coding Ozobot.

No! While you could argue that at teacher could observe a student “enjoying” something, it’s not measurable.

Students will write three pieces of code.

No! While this objective is measurable, it does not provide circumstances or a degree to which students will perform. This could be re-written as “Students will write one program with three pieces of code in sequential order using Ozoblockly.

Congrats! Now you know how to identify and write a well-written objective. What objectives can you think of for some Ozobot Lessons? Visit the Lesson Submission Tool to create a new lesson with your spectacular objective!

The post How To Write Clear Lesson Objectives appeared first on Ozobot.

Ozobot Edu Seeks Middle School Lessons

Melissa Toohey — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 02:45:43 +0000

Ozobot is looking for Middle School lessons to include in our Core Coding Curriculum, and we need your help! We are looking for lessons that can help launch a beginning teacher into the world of computer science and Ozobot integration.

Oftentimes, teachers are given new platforms to implement in their classroom, and finding a place to start can feel quite cumbersome. Bot Camp educator training in our 2 Ways to Code can help a teacher feel more comfortable with our technology. When it comes to leading students through lessons, however, we’re hoping that our Core Coding Curriculum will help educators feel successful and confident as they introduce Ozobots in their classrooms.

The Ask

There are three types of lessons we’re looking for:

Generalized lessons that integrate Ozobots into any content area
- Have you written or taught an Ozobot lesson that could be applied to a variety of middle school subjects?
- Have you written or taught lessons that could be slightly tweaked to apply to other content areas?

Computer Science and Engineering-focused lessons
- Have you written or taught an Ozobot lesson that explicitly teaches computer science principles and concepts?
- Have you created content around concepts around game design, design thinking, or engineering?

Units of Lessons
- Have you created lesson units that integrate Ozobots into your curriculum?
- Have you created project-based learning content?

At minimum, lesson plans should include steps for direct instruction, student/independent practice, materials, and any corresponding supplemental materials.

The Upside

We would love to see the content you or your colleagues have developed, and we reward community content. All lesson submitters get rewarded with an Ozobot t-shirt, but we’re upping the benefits for Middle School lessons. For a limited time, if you submit a Middle School lesson, we will send you a free Educator Entry Kit, and if your lesson(s) are chosen to be part of our curriculum, we’ll send you a free Classroom Kit! Please submit your lessons to Melissa@ozobot.com for consideration.

Have more project ideas and content you want to see from Ozobot Edu? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Ozobot Edu Seeks Middle School Lessons appeared first on Ozobot.

Melissa Toohey – Ozobot

Hands-On Video Lessons Weeks 1-4: Intro to STEAM

Weeks 1-4: Intro to Ozobot & STEAM

Week 1 – Introduction to Ozobot: Get to Know Evo

Week 2 – Introduction to Color Codes 1: Line Following

Week 3 – Introduction to Color Codes 2: Drawing Color Codes

Week 4 – Introduction to Color Codes 3: Directionality

Our New Video Lessons: For Hands-On Learning Anywhere

About Learn Anywhere Lessons

What Materials are Included?

Steps for Instruction

upcoming webinars to dive deeper into these lessons (and earn PD)! The post Our New Video Lessons: For Hands-On Learning Anywhere appeared first on Ozobot.

4 Ways to Create LGBT-Safe Classrooms and Culture

1. Incorporate Literature That’s Reflective of All Types of Families

2. Have Open and Continuous Conversations about Inclusivity

3. Nip Problematic Language in the Bud

4. Incorporate Explicit LGBTQ+/Anti-Bias Lessons in Your Classroom

5. Celebrate LGBTQ+ People in STEM

How to Get Parent Buy In:

ShapeTracer 2: Introduce Loops Remotely with a Robot Simulator

What’s the Difference between ShapeTracer 1 and ShapeTracer 2?

Where can I find ShapeTracer 2?

Getting Started

Level 1 Tips and Tricks:

Level 2 Tips and Tricks:

Level 3 Tips and Tricks:

Level 4 Tips and Tricks:

Level 5 Tips and Tricks:

Level 6 Tips and Tricks:

Level 7 Tips and Tricks:

Level 8 Tips and Tricks:

Level 9 Tips and Tricks:

Level 10 Tips and Tricks:

Submit Your Ozobot Lesson Video to Win a Bot for Each Student in Your Class!

Steps to Submit

What Makes a Great Instructional Video?

Don’t Know Where to Start ?

Increase Your Chances to Win!

What if I Don’t Own an Ozobot?

Contest Terms & Conditions

ShapeTracer 1: A Robot Simulator to Teach Computer Science Remotely

Where can I find ShapeTracer 1?

Getting Started

Level 1 Tips and Tricks:

Level 2 Tips and Tricks:

Level 3 Tips and Tricks:

Level 4 Tips and Tricks:

Level 5 Tips and Tricks:

Level 6 Tips and Tricks:

Level 7 Tips and Tricks:

Level 8 Tips and Tricks:

Level 9 Tips and Tricks:

Level 10 Tips and Tricks:

Be Our Next Educator Of The Month!

How To Write Clear Lesson Objectives

Objectives Provide Direction to Instruction

Objectives Provide Guidelines for Assessment

Objectives Provide Instructional Intent to Others

How to Write an Objective

Ask yourself, “What should the student be able to do?”

Utilize Bloom’s Taxonomy

Use the Phrase, “Students will be able to…”

Ozobot Edu Seeks Middle School Lessons

The Ask

The Upside

upcoming webinars to dive deeper into these lessons (and earn PD)!

The post Our New Video Lessons: For Hands-On Learning Anywhere appeared first on Ozobot.