Meghan Thoreau, OSU Extension Educator
This March Westfall Elementary School started spring by hosting Cultivating Curiosity: a STEAM and Agricultural Adventures for students and parents to explore STEAM in their school. The district partnered with OSU Extension, Pickaway County to bring an agricultural coding session for students and parents to learn to code with simulated ground drones working on a simulated agricultural landscape. Click to watch a short highlight video of the shared experience.
Students coded connected drones from Spheros, a robotics company, best known for its programmable robots and connected toys. Students coded both, Sphero RVRs and Sphero Bolt, customizable robots that can be programmed and controlled using various platforms like Scratch, Sphero Edu App, Raspberry Pi, or Arduino.
Our program used Sphero EDU free app available in both Google Play or the App Store. Sphero EDU allows users to program using block code or text.
Spheros are designed to be educational, allowing users to learn about robotics, coding, and electronics in a hands-on way. The Sphero RVR is equipped with various sensors, motors, and expansion ports, making it suitable for a wide range of projects and applications.
You can typically buy Sphero products, including Sphero RVRs, from various retailers both online and in physical stores. Some popular places to purchase Sphero robots include:
- Official Sphero website: The official Sphero website often offers a wide range of products directly from the manufacturer.
- Online retailers: Websites like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target often carry Sphero products in their inventory.
- Specialty robotics or educational stores: Some specialty stores focus on robotics, STEM education, or educational toys, and they may carry Sphero products.
- Electronics stores: Stores like Apple Stores, Fry’s Electronics, or Micro Center might have Sphero products available for purchase.
Be Creative, Keep Coding.