As part of their work with science and STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) the Lakeview fifth graders are working with Ozobot Bits - small “Smart” toy robots. The Ozobot Bit is designed to provide students with opportunities to learn simple coding language while also encouraging students’ creativity and skills for problem-solving and deductive reasoning. The Ozobot device is programmed to follow black, red, blue, and green lines/paths which control the Ozobot’s movement and speed in different directions. The device has sensors that recognize color sequences and interprets them as commands for directing speed and movement. After learning to calibrate their Ozobot, the students started with an activity to observe the Ozobot’s navigation through the various color codes on lines. Building from their observations, the students quickly learned how to combine various line sequences to alter their Ozobot’s direction and speed and worked in teams to design their own paths and mazes for their Ozobots.
