Spherobolt Season: Whoville Comes to LCCTC
If you've been walking the halls of LCCTC lately, you may have noticed an unusual sound—“Whirrrrr!”—followed by a sleek orb adorned with color-changing LEDs zipping by. You may have even seen a green hairy beast dressed in red with white trim. This is neither science fiction nor is it a holiday movie; it's the reality of Ms. Brown and Miss Atkins’ Intro to STEAM class, where students are diving headfirst into hands-on learning with SpheroBolts —this year, as the Grinch in Whoville!
What Are SpheroBolts?
SpheroBolts are small, app-controlled robots equipped with cutting-edge technology. Using Bluetooth, students connect the bots to their phones or Chromebooks to control them. The bots boast features like a durable, waterproof shell to withstand classroom experiments and vibrant, customizable LED lights that students can program to suit their creative visions.
A standout feature is the magnetometer, which measures direction, distance, and speed. This tool provides an engaging way for students to explore concepts in science and mathematics, from physics principles to data analysis.
Hands-On Learning Through Play
In the Intro to STEAM class, SpheroBolts bring lessons in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics to life. Students use a variety of methods to control the bots, including:
Joystick Mode: Directly maneuvering the bot.
Block Programming: Creating sequences of actions using drag-and-drop coding blocks.
Typing Commands: Writing code to execute specific tasks.
Drawing Commands: Sketching paths for the robot to follow.
Specialized Apps: Using smartphones or Chromebooks for educational programming tasks.
One particularly fun and festive project had students creating a Whoville scene and programming their SpheroBolts—disguised as the Grinch—to "steal Christmas" from house to house. This imaginative activity combined coding with storytelling and artistic expression, showing how technology and creativity can work hand-in-hand.
A New Way to Approach Learning
Unlike traditional test-based learning, project-based assessment in the STEAM class focuses on creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Ms. Brown and Miss Atkins guide students through the process of:
Making a Hypothesis: Predicting how the robot will behave in their programmed task.
Conducting Experiments: Testing their code and observing outcomes.
Adjusting and Refining: Tweaking their approach until they achieve success.
By removing the stress of conventional numerical grades and emphasizing activity-based assessments, the class creates an inviting environment where students can experiment freely, learn from failures, and celebrate their successes.
Building Skills for the Future
The skills students develop through these projects extend beyond the classroom. They’re gaining hands-on experience with programming, critical thinking, and teamwork—foundational skills that will serve them well in future careers.
Whether they're learning to debug a tricky block of code or designing a festive Whoville scene, these budding technologists are proving that education can be engaging, innovative, and just plain fun . . . so much fun that maybe their hearts will grow three sizes while they learn! So next time you hear a “whirrrrr” down the hall, you’ll know—it’s SpheroBolt season at LCCTC!
