Computer Science

Disney-Backed littleBits Unveils Coding Kit

• By Sri Ravipati
• 03/07/17

New York-based hardware startup littleBits, known for its electronic building blocks and for being  part of the Disney Accelerator program, has unveiled a new kit that teaches students how to code. The upcoming littleBits Code Kit is designed to teach students in grades 3 to 8 the foundations of coding and engineering through hands-on activities and gaming.

Included in the kit are:

• 16 “Bits,” or modular circuits, including the new codeBit and an LED Matrix;
• Four game-based interventions: Tug-of-War, Ultimate Shootout, Hot Potato and Rockstar Guitar;
• More than 100 activities and 10 lessons tied to Next Generation Science Standards and computer science standards;
• Quick start guides for both students and teachers, including a Bit index and a classroom poster;
• An interactive online teacher’s guide that allows teachers to import lessons directly into Google Docs;
• A rechargeable battery and 30 accessories; and
• An accompanying app* for PC, Mac and Chromebook devices that provides step-by-step instructions for easy block-based programming.

Bits snap together with magnets and are usable with other kits offered by the company. The Code Kit app’s block-programming interface is based on Google’s Blockly, a drag-and-drop visual code editor.

The startup is part of the Disney Accelerator 2016 cohort and has raised $60 million in funding, TechCrunch reported.

The littleBits Code Kit will be released in June. The company is currently accepting advanced purchase orders for the kit, which costs $299.95. It will be sold on littleBit’s website and Amazon.

To learn more about how the electronic building blocks work, watch the video below. Further information is available on the littleBits site.

*Update 3/8/2017: An earlier version of this article stated the app works on mobile devices. However, it is only compatible for PC, Mac and Chromebook devices.