About

This blog is intended to provide information, guidance and encouragement for my grandchildren but hope it will prove useful too for very young children initially for which Lego Wedo is more suitable , then later content more suitable for older children who would be able to handle Lego Mindstorms.

Equipment used will be the LEGO Education WeDo robotic sets and later the LEGO EDUCATION MINDSTORMS EV3. Other equipment will be the Lego Technic and other Lego parts.

Initially it may not have many posts/articles but more will be added later.

Some notes about Lego Wedo from the Lego Engineering Google Group:

I'm not a big fan of WeDo, in large part because of it's price.
The construction set is very small. (I was stunned when I received mine.) I'm sure all of the parts would fit in a quart-sized zip-lock bag. That's $130. The software is an additional $40. And the set comes with no sample builds. For that you need to purchase their Activity Set for another $130.
Additionally, the set is tethered.
I think the NXT is a far better deal.

It (Wedo) is very easy to use, the kids (with no lego programming experience) have found it really easy to use both building and programming.
All the instructions - intro video, building, programming are all available onscreen with no text. All the kids needed to learn was how to switch between open programs (Alt-Tab)
The other thing I really like is that there is a literacy element, students have to write a journal, a story or some other writing task to complete each project.
Each of the tasks are story based and it allows the kids lots of scope for play, and also scope for using tilt sensors, random number generators.
The programming is a bit like scratch (if you have used that, if not google it download it and try it) they are jigsaw pieces that fit together and certain pieces only fit where they should, very colourful and visual
I would recommend anyone thinking of it, to get some kits and try it.
We are planning on using WeDo for gr 3 and 4 and NXT for gr 5-7

For younger students (whom it [Wedo] was designed for) WeDo is much much better than NXT and a great stepping stone to using and programming the NXT

I actually love the WeDo set. I think the standard models are
fantastic and very engaging, and that the underlying premise
(story-telling) is a good way to incorporate it into just about every
aspect of the curriculum. I think the software is very intuitive and
that it really suit the grade1-4 age group it in intended for.

But just like Fay, I think it is *very* overpriced for what you get.
As a result, I'm not sure if it is cost effective

After using WeDo kits for the last term of 2009, my students (and I) declare they are absolutely fantastic!
The activities CD has step by step building and programming instructions for numerous creations that are all based on a 'simple machine' type of approach.
For example, students can build a spinning top, and by changing the size of the gear cog, i.e. from 8 tooth to 24 tooth, the top spins at different speeds, or there is a drumming monkey that students are challenged to change the drumming pattern by adjusting the number and position of certain pieces.
In addition, there are both basic programming instructions and extension opportunities, or students can write their own programmes at any time.
The teacher's resources are also fabulous - there are proformas ready to print out for students to record their evolving learning, e.g. students can record what they think is going to happen, what changed, and what did happen.
The programming is a fabulous introduction to the NXT software too.
Of course, students can build their own creations and programme them too, though I would recommend going through the activities initially so that basic building and programming principles are established first.
I have spent time using the WeDo kit and also the Activity Pack. It is well designed, but I cannot get over the high cost for what it includes. Perhaps I am too cost conscious, but I'm not willing to spend $1090 for a 6 kit classroom set and still only have only one motor and one sensor (adding more costs $45 per USB hub and $20 per sensor. The motors are reasonable at $8. all prices $US).
I suspect different teachers will have different opinions on the cost depending on their available budget and who is paying.
The programming interface is very slick and age appropriate, though more limited than I would like