The purpose of this session is to engage participants in exploring robotics and coding materials designed for teaching very young children. New ideas about how screen-free coding can be integrated in early childhood programs will be explored. Participants will learn about the KIBO robot and its basic parts and functions. Several sets of coding blocks and robots will be available to explore. How educators can use this tool to support creativity and problem-solving skills and dispositions will be discussed. Participants will learn how pre-service teachers in an early childhood program at Dean College used KIBO to expand their own STEM knowledge and add it to their future teacher toolbox. Participants will play with the coding blocks and robot and engage in the engineering design process, consisting of a cycle of steps to follow in construction, revision, and sharing when using KIBO in any activity. Participants will be given some challenges and asked to follow the design process.
1 Patriot Place
Foxborough, MA 02035
United States