Technology is everywhere, every day, all the time, and it pervades every facet of modern society—including classrooms. Ozobots, small spherical robots that can be programmed to do just about anything, are a recent technological development that has been seen in contemporary classrooms. These robots are widely beloved by students, and they can help educators in teaching any subject, from math to world history.
Ozobots were invented by Nader Hamda, a father who was inspired by his daughter’s interest in digital technology to invent an educational gadget that could be used as an alternative to other educational toys. Compared to previous educational gadgets, Ozobots are cheaper and more effective in learning. Ozobots are typically $100 per robot, but educational institutions/educators can buy them in bulk at a discounted price, which includes an extensive warranty as well as technological support.
As for what makes Ozobots so revolutionary in the technological world, these gadgets are special because they can go from simple to complex, depending on the skill and desire of the user(s). They can be programmed two ways: using the downloadable app, Ozobot Blockly, or using Color Codes, which are colored maps that use the recognition of certain tones to make the robot perform certain actions. For example, for younger children in lower-level classes, colored markers and pieces of paper can be used to program the bots! All that needs to be done is a black line should be drawn on a piece of paper and, using the designs that come with the bots, colored lines should follow. Depending on the pattern drawn, the bots will perform different functions. A black line followed by a green line, another black line and a green line, for instance, can cause the bot to “cruise,” which means it will follow the line at a general speed.
Ozobots can also be used to teach lessons. There are premade lessons available on the Ozobot website, where educators can find lessons for just about every subject. Students can follow along with the lessons using their robots, and they can program them to do things like math problems. In the specific setting of a mathematics class, the robots can be programmed to use coding paths between math problems and their solutions, creating mazes of specific lengths or mazes that take a specific amount of time to complete. For an ELA class, the same thing can be done with sequencing, stories and rhyming words. For history lessons, students can build with the bots in order to recreate certain historical settings!
These robots can be useful for every age group, even college students. For purposes of technology integration in classrooms, college students can become proficient in using these bots and figuring out how to implement them in their future classrooms.
Essentially, Ozobots are a technological development that can help the teachers of today and tomorrow to teach lessons in new and unique ways, engaging their students using these technologies and making learning more interactive. In an age where technology is everywhere, education is slowly moving to catch up to the rapidly expanding world of technology.
