Sphero and Ollie
Sphero Overview
Spheros are (based on official website definition and specifications):
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Accessories
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AppsOver 30 free apps can be downloaded to upgrade your play from iTunes App Store or Google Play. Item can only be used with Apple or Android products
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Ollie is a separate robot than Sphero 2.0. Both are made by the same company.
Ollie
Overview
Ollie is (based on official website definition and specifications):
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How do you use it?
- To use Ollie or Sphero one needs clear play place, charging USB cable, and downloading free Android or iOS Apps.
- Connect them to smart device through Bluetooth.
- Open the programming App.
How can you use it?
- Know what in the box for Sphero with Jay in this video
2. Sphero Education twitter account
3. Ollie twitter account at https://twitter.com/OllieMarland
4. Meet Sphero, in this video so you can get idea of some of the possibilities.
5. basic idea.
Benefits of the technology
- Teachers can Set up a classroom with student logins and assign activities, track progress in real-time, and review student work.
- The Ollie and Sphero company has a whole collection of high quality, common core aligned, STEM lessons designed for it.
Weaknesses and advantages of the technology
- There are some weaknesses and limitation to using Sphero and Ollie in classroom, starting from the cost, not every school in the district will afford to buy them for classroom usage (Ollie without much accessories costs $100). In addition, to go beyond using them to advance students’ coding skills the teachers must use sort of application, which means the class must have some smart devices, iPad will be the best choice for the classroom but not for the school budget. Also, they need to be charged prior the classroom (Ollie usually requires up to 3 hours to fully charge), and they last for an hour only, which adds a new task to teachers’ tasks list. Furthermore, the tiny size of them makes stealing them from the school easy. Moreover, saving them from accidents and avoid breakage is not an easy goal to achieve due to their relatively size. Also, they will not work with Kindle because the app is not available on the Amazon App Store.
- The battery is not replaceable.
- Ollie is not waterproof, but Sphero is.
Examples of how may this technology support teaching and learning
Jackson Pollock style STEM to STEAM project using SPRK Lightning Lab
Schuylerville Middle School students in Laurie Guyon’s sixth-grade class are using robots to take a reading project to the next level.
Research/resources on the technology
1. The App Controlled Robot Ball That Also Teaches STEM Skills!
In this article the author explores Sphero benefits and variety of usage, and apps that can be used with it, and link to many video tutorials.
http://www.edtechroundup.org/6/post/2014/10/sphero-the-app-controlled-robot-ball-that-also-teaches-stem-skills.html
2. Sphero vs Ollie: Which Robot Should You Pick? : In this article the author compares and contrasts Spheros and Ollies in many ways.
3. Sphero 2.0 & Ollie Robots - All You Need to Know Review: In this article the author defined Spheros and Ollies and provided information about integrating them in classroom.
In this article the author explores Sphero benefits and variety of usage, and apps that can be used with it, and link to many video tutorials.
http://www.edtechroundup.org/6/post/2014/10/sphero-the-app-controlled-robot-ball-that-also-teaches-stem-skills.html
2. Sphero vs Ollie: Which Robot Should You Pick? : In this article the author compares and contrasts Spheros and Ollies in many ways.
3. Sphero 2.0 & Ollie Robots - All You Need to Know Review: In this article the author defined Spheros and Ollies and provided information about integrating them in classroom.