OzoBlockly

I decided to try out OzoBlockly - a drag-and-drop block-based language much like Scratch or AppInventor. The commands (especially movements) are tailored to the Ozobot (obviously). Since it's a web-based application, you can use it on any platform with a web browser, including mobile devices. Nothing unexpected so far, but my big question was how to get the program into the Ozobot. And that is what I found incredibly fascinating. You simply place the Ozobot against your device screen and the code is read in by the sensors on the bottom...genius.

One of the things I truly admire about this product is the elegance in its simplicity.

If you want to try out OzoBlockly, there are several beginner examples listed in the side bar of the program. There is also a reference section that gives detailed information about each programming block. Many of the challenges come with maps you can print out for the Ozobot to follow (I just use regular settings on my inkjet printer with white copy paper). I don't have a user account yet, since I don't have an Evo, but if you are programming on a laptop, you can save your programs to the computer (they are saved in the Download folder). One final feature, especially for older students, is the ability to see the JavaScript syntax for your program.

Ozobot Footnote

I discovered the trouble with using the Ozobot with today's pre-schoolers is that they are encouraged to "color outside the lines." Unfortunately, the Ozobot is more old-school. 

I tested out the Ozobot with my 4-year old niece. She loves to draw and is learning to write her name, but that meant she was always trying to draw lines with the pointed end of the marker. I'm kind of surprised that the Ozobot markers even have a pointed end, given that the robot needs a fairly wide line to follow. The Ozobot markers have a nice chisel tip, but when I tried it myself, I realized that you have to hold the markers at a fairly large slant in order to draw a thick line (more of a slant than you would naturally hold a pencil). I think using a regular blunt tip marker (possibly Expo?) would work better for a younger child.

The second issue was coloring in her own codes. The activity sheets have the squares outlined in a light gray. They're even labeled with the colors you should be using. However, the Ozobot takes readings so frequently that gaps between blocks or coloring beyond the length of the block tends to confuse the robot. Of course, to a 4-year old, erratic behavior in anything is hysterical, but that wasn't really the point of the lesson. The next time, I think we'll try using the sticker sheets for inserting color codes.

Ozobot

A few months ago, I did some research on robotics kits for pre-schoolers. Since that time, I've been to the NSTA convention and actually had a chance to play with several of them. I already own LEGO's WeDo set (which I love), but I think it's a little advanced for 4-year olds (my target audience). The 4M Tin Can Robot from Walmart turned out to be a nightmare to put together - too many tiny little screws and flimsy plastic parts (though it seemed fairly durable once we finally got it together). Some robotic kits are a bit pricey (like Dash & Dot); some are a little complicated for a 4-year old's fine motor skills (like Meccano). I was leaning toward Ozobot, but the reviews were somewhat mixed, especially in the area of customer service. I finally decided to take a chance on the Ozobot, but buy it from Amazon since they have an excellent return policy if anything went wrong. And I am so pleased with my purchase.

I opted for the Ozobot 2.0 Bit Starter Pack. It was only $5 more than the Ozobot alone, and came with a set of markers (saving me a trip to the store). What I didn't realize was that it also came with an assortment of activity sheets, color codes, puzzles, stickers, and skins. Some of the activity sheets are pre-printed routes with color codes interspersed along the black lines. Some have blank sections requiring students to use markers or stickers to designate the color-coded action. Still others are like puzzles, requiring students to enter a specific set of color codes to accomplish a goal. Overall, I think this is an excellent way to introduce programming to 4-year olds who have not developed an extensive reading vocabulary. And once they get a little older, they can write more traditional programs with OzoBlockly and download them to their robots.

Because the Ozobot is so small (notice the penny in the photo), it can also follow lines on an iOS or Android tablet. It even worked on my old Kindle Fire, following lines I drew with the SketchBook app. The team at ozobot.com is hard at work developing interesting apps to trigger the imagination of your students, such as OzoGroove - an app designed to have your Ozobot execute dance moves. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.