Subject: Digital
Technologies
Strand
: Design and Technology
Sub-strand: Design and technologies process and production skills
Bands: 3 to 7
Boost is Lego’s latest introduction of Lego robotics to 2017. Boost is a step up from Lego’s Mindstorms and WeDo 2.0 robotics kits, introducing movement to Lego. Boost gives students the opportunity to engage in the active learning process, whereby students construct their own learning. Boost is not only fun, but it’s also educational. Using the software available on the Lego Boost website, teachers can tailor learning experiences which are relevant, hands on and fun, while learning the fundamentals of coding and computational thinking.
How?
Boost has over 60 different coding activities available. Teachers can select the activity they would like to incorporate into their learning experience from the Boost App, available for most Android and Apple devices. Coding with Lego is easy, students demonstrate their problem solving skills and ability to think critically by programming their Lego Boost creation to suit the learning task. Boost Lego has special bricks including a motor and sensors, which gauge surrounding colours and distance from objects in its path.
LEGO Boost isn’t available until August 2017, however children and adults are bursting to try this new technology!
Content Descriptors
Year 3 to Year 4
- Generate, develop, and communicate design ideas and decisions using appropriate technical terms and graphical representation techniques (ACTDEP015)
- Select and use materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques and use safe work practices to make designed solutions (ACTDEP016)
- Plan a sequence of production steps when making designed solutions individually and collaboratively (ACTDEP018)
Year 5 to Year 6
- Generate, develop and communicate design ideas and processes for audiences using appropriate technical terms and graphical representation techniques (ACTDEP025)
- Select appropriate materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques and apply safe procedures to make designed solutions (ACTDEP026)
- Develop project plans that include consideration of resources when making designed solutions individually and collaboratively (ACTDEP028)
Year 7 to Year 8
- Critique needs or opportunities for designing and investigate, analyse and select from a range of materials, components, tools, equipment and processes to develop design ideas (ACTDEP035)
- Select and justify choices of materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques to effectively and safely make designed solutions (ACTDEP037)
- Use project management processes when working individually and collaboratively to coordinate production of designed solutions (ACTDEP039
General capabilities
- Literacy
- Numeracy
- Science
- Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking
- Personal and Social capability
- Information and Communication Technology
Further Information
Youtube – Boost LEGO in Education
Youtube – WeDo LEGO in Education
Lego Computer Coding Activities
By Emily Richardson
Hi Emily,
I like the possibilities this resource provides.
This resource looks like lots of fun but also meaningful learning at the same time.
Your depth and understanding of this resource has helped me recognise its endless possibilities in the classroom context.
Thank you for sharing it with us.
Regards,
Josh Gardiner
I really enjoyed reading this post and learning about Lego Robot. Using Lego for programing is such a great idea because student already have the connection from using it in their personal life at home. I have not used this program before but believe this would be a great addition in an upper primary classroom. I love how this resource can be used individually or within small groups allowing children to develop social skills whilst being actively engaged in the learning process. I believe this program would motivate students through friendly competition and would be a great program to use at the end of a learning unit.
The steps for use provided are helpful and informative. Thank you for providing such clear information.
Thankyou for sharing this post.
Hi Emily,
I enjoyed reading your post about LEGO boost. What a fantastic idea to use this technology to teach students about coding. This resource looks engaging which is highly important to students and to the teacher as the children will have a willingness to learn. I haven’t heard of this program before but have used LEGO to teach design and technology on my 3rd year practicum. All the students loved the activities and this would be a fantastic way to discover coding in the classroom. The program has a vast amount of activities which is fantastic and ideal to match any classroom setting.
Thank you for your insight into LEGO Boost.
Regards
Emma
I haven’t seen these before – but I know that using Lego would have been a huge hit in my recent Year 4 classroom! I love how students are coding a real-life robot (as opposed to a computer simulation) and there seems to be a lot more options available that Dot and Dash.
Programming and coding are such important parts of students learning, and through the use of an educational resource that most children are already familiar with (Lego) will help to make this a rich and meaningful experience. I really like how this resource incorporates hands on learning and digital technology. With this resource, students have the opportunity to build different robots and engage in the Boost app that has a great balance of simplicity, depth and fun, turning learning into a game that even preliterate students can master. It is great that the Boost app is available on android and apple, and that it promotes students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills by providing opportunities for them to programme their Lego Boost creating to suit the learning task.
Overall, I think this is an excellent resource that would motivate students in the classroom, promote social skills and peer learning and extend their learning!
This resource is fantastic as students are able to learn about programming and coding through the use of an already know tool, lego. The fact that students are coding a real life robot makes the learning process fun and meaningful. The Boost app not only promotes students’ thinking critically about problem solving but also motivates them to extend on their social learning.